Seroprevalence and associated risk factors of selected zoonotic viral hemorrhagic fevers in Tanzania
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Date
2021
Journal Title
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Abstract
Objective: To determine the seroprevalence of selected zoonotic viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) and their
associated risk factors in Tanzania.
Methods: Blood samples were collected from consenting outpatients and community members in eight
districts selected from five ecological zones of Tanzania. Serum was harvested and tested for the presence
of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and M (IgM) antibodies against Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF),
Ebola virus disease (EVD), Marburg virus disease (MVD), Rift Valley fever (RVF), and yellow fever (YF).
Results: The presence of IgM and IgG antibodies against CCHF, EVD, MVD, RVF, and YF was detected in
64 of 500 samples (12.8%). The prevalences of IgM and IgG antibodies to CCHF, EVD, MVD, RFV, and YF
were 2.0%, 3.4%, 1.2%, 4.8%, and 1.4%, respectively. Contact with wild animals (OR = 1.2, CI = 1.3–1.6) and
keeping goats (OR = 1.3, CI = 1.5–1.9) were significantly associated with RVF, while contact with bats
(OR = 1.2, CI = 1.1–1.5) was associated with MVD.
Conclusion: The findings of this study provide evidence of exposure to CCHF, EVD, MVD, RVF, and YF
in Tanzania. Since most of these VHFs occurred without apparent clinical forms of the disease, these
findings call for the need to strengthen the surveillance system and management of febrile illnesses in
Tanzania.
Description
International Journal of Infectious Diseases 109 (2021) pp. 174–181
Keywords
Viral hemorrhagic, Fever antibodies, Seroprevalence risk factors, Tanzania