Seroprevalence of West Nile Virus specific IgG and IgM antibodies in North-Western and Western provinces of Zambia

• Published in: African health sciences 2015-09, Vol.15 (3), p.803-809
• Main Authors: Mweene-Ndumba, Idah, Siziya, Seter, Monze, Mwaka, Mazaba, Mazyanga L, Masaninga, Freddie, Songolo, Peter, Mwaba, Peter, Babaniyi, Olusegun A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibodies, Viral - blood; Antibodies, Viral - immunology; Antigens, Viral - immunology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay - methods; Female; Health Surveys; Humans; Immune system; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Immunoglobulin G - immunology; Immunoglobulin M - blood; Immunoglobulin M - immunology; Mosquitoes; Regression analysis; Research methodology; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Serology; Seroprevalence, West Wile Virus, Western province, North-Western province, Zambia; Statistical analysis; Symptoms; Travel; Viral infections; West Nile Fever - diagnosis; West Nile Fever - epidemiology; West Nile virus - immunology; West Nile virus - isolation & purification; Zambia - epidemiology
• ISSN: 1680-6905; 1729-0503; 1680-6905
• DOI: 10.4314/ahs.v15i3.14

Background: West Nile Virus (WNV) infection has been reported worldwide, including in Africa but its existence in Zambia is unknown. Symptoms for the virus include headache, myalgia, arthralgia and rash. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of WNV and its correlates. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in North-Western and Western provinces of Zambia. Samples were subjected to IgG and IgM antibodies testing against WNV. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine magnitudes of association. Results: A total of 3,625 of persons participated in the survey out of which 10.3% had WNV infection. Farmers were 20% (AOR=0.80; 95% CI [0.64, 0.99]) less likely to have infection compared to students. Meanwhile participants who lived in grass roofed houses were 2.97 (AOR=2.97; 95% CI [1.81, 4.88]) times more likely to be infected than those who lived in asbestos roofed houses. IRS was associated with reduced risk of infection (AOR=0.81; 95% CI [0.69, 0.94]). Travelling to Angola was associated with the infection [AOR=1.40; 95% CI [1.09, 1.81]. Conclusion: Spraying houses with insecticide residual spray would minimize mosquito-man contact. Furthermore, surveillance at the border with Angola should be enhanced in order to reduce importation of the virus into the country.