Dengue Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for Past and Recent Viral Transmission in Venezuela: A Comprehensive Community-Based Study

Abstract

Abstract. Dengue transmission in Venezuela has become perennial and a major public health problem. The increase in frequency and magnitude of recent epidemics prompted a comprehensive community-based cross-sectional study of 2,014 individuals in high-incidence neighborhoods of Maracay, Venezuela. We found a high seroprevalence (77.4%), with 10% of people experiencing recent infections. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that poverty-related socioeconomic factors (place and duration of residence, crowding, household size, and living in a shack) and factors/constraints related to intradomiciliary potential mosquito breeding sites (storing water and used tires) were linked with a greater risk of acquiring a dengue infection. Our results also suggest that transmission occurs mainly at home. The combination of increasingly crowded living conditions, growing population density, precarious homes, and water storage issues caused by enduring problems in public services in Maracay are the most likely factors that determine the permanent dengue transmission and the failure of vector control programs.

Dengue seroprevalence, seroconversion and risk factors in Dhaka, Bangladesh

“…The most common types of mosquito control measures employed by residents of Dhaka were use of bed nets, burning of mosquito coils and the use of insecticidal sprays. Consistent with other studies, we observed a significant association of both DENV seroprevalence and seroconversion with use of some personal mosquito control measures [11,59–60]. In our evaluation of the effect of personal mosquito control measures on the risk of dengue infection, bed nets appeared to be associated with a lower likelihood of infection than the use of mosquito coils or insecticide sprays, which is consistent with findings reported by others [61].…”

“…In a study in southern Vietnam, Thai et al [56] found a positive association between some peri-domestic risk factors including discarded cans and pit latrines and a high prevalence of DENV antibodies. Similar to some of our findings, the pattern of DENV transmission occurring mainly (but not exclusively) at home was observed in studies conducted in Singapore [40], Brazil [41] and Venezuela [11]. Braga et al [39] observed that household members who spent more time within homes, such as domestic workers and housewives, were at a higher risk of acquiring recent dengue infection.…”

“…The underlying drivers of DENV activity operate at various spatial scales, and among factors at the regional/local scale, uncontrolled urbanization [11], human population density and clustering of households with DENV activity seem to play a prominent role. At the finer scale of neighborhoods and households, the absence of public utility services including reliable sources of potable water, effective sewer systems, and appropriate waste disposal appears to contribute significantly to the problem [12–15].…”

Risk Factors Associated with Dengue Transmission and Spatial Distribution of High Seroprevalence in Schoolchildren from the Urban Area of Medellin, Colombia

“…High and age-specific DENV IgG seroprevalence is consistent with long-term endemic circulation of DENV [27], and it is in accordance with a recent community-based survey carried out in the Santa Cruz district of Medellin [26] after the 2010 outbreak. Similar results in younger population have been reported in countries like Nicaragua [10, 28], Dominican Republic [29], Southern Vietnam [14], and Venezuela [30]. …”

“…Those findings evidence that, through 2010, the combination of poorly and crowded socioeconomic living conditions and densest human and mosquito populations was associated with a higher DENV transmission risk. As reported by other authors, those factors are determinants for the permanent DENV transmission [30]. The House Index (HI), Container Index (CI), and Breteau Index (BI) are recommended by PAHO (Pan American Health Organization) for monitoring vector abundance and targeting and evaluating vector control interventions.…”