Molecular Investigation of Dengue Virus Serotype 2 Circulation in Kassala State, Sudan

Magzoub

Libyan Journal of Medicine

et al. 2019

Vector-borne diseases are responsible for more than 20% of the infectious diseases worldwide. The prevalence of arboviruses transmit diseases to humans in Sudan has not been investigated. Mosquito-borne viral diseases increase globally incidence, including the Sudan. Frequent unknown fever outbreaks have been reported in eastern region, Sudan. However, diagnosis was based exclusively on clinical signs and symptoms without confirmatory laboratory investigations. However, for accurate detection of these viruses in outbreaks, molecular technique is considered. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of six arboviruses in the Kassala state of east Sudan during unknown fever outbreak. A cross sectional hospital-based study was conducted in the Kassala, Teaching Hospital. Blood samples from 119 patients suffering from unknown fever were used for screening of six arboviruses, hepatitis E virus and malarial using molecular techniques and serology. The overall arboviruses seroprevelance was 61.3% (73/119). The highest positivity rate was 73.1% (52/73) chikungunya virus; 29 males and 20 females patients were chikungunya positive. Other arboviruses were circulating in low rate 20.5% (15/73), and 6.8% (5/73) for sindbis and rift valley fever viruses respectively. Hepatitis E virus was negative in all cases and malaria positivity rate 13.4% (16/119). The prevalence of arboviruses among unknown fever patients present to Kassala teaching hospital of eastern region in Sudan is significantly high (61.3%). The chikungunya virus is the predominant causative agent of arboviruses. Molecular techniques such as PCR are important for accurate and rapid diagnosis of this viral outbreak.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Prevalence and identification of arthropod-transmitted viruses in Kassala state, Eastern Sudan

Magzoub

Libyan Journal of Medicine

et al. 2019

“…Indeed, most dengue outbreaks in the Middle East and North Africa were reported from Sudan [40,41]. Sudan was the first country in Africa to report DENV-1 in 1984; DENV-2 was isolated from patients admitted to a hospital in East Sudan in 1984, and reported from Kassala state for the first time during an outbreak in 2016/17 [42,43]. DENV infections were reported from the population of east, north, south, and central Sudan with infection rates ranging between 7-25%, and these infections were associated with epidemics of febrile illness, following heavy rain and flooding [5,6,35].…”

Section: Dengue Virusmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Later, in 2015, a novel outbreak of dengue fever occurred among refugees in the Darfur area, west Sudan, in which DENV-2 and 3 were co-circulating in the area [51]. This was followed by further outbreak in 2016/17 in east Sudan caused by DENV-2 [42]. Additionally, studies reported a high prevalence (67%) of DENV infections in Sudan and up to 89% in the coastal area.…”

Section: Dengue Virusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risks and Challenges of Arboviral Diseases in Sudan: The Urgent Need for Actions

Ahmed

Dietrich

LaBeaud

et al. 2020

Viruses

Self Cite

105

The risk of emergence and/or re-emergence of arthropod-borne viral (arboviral) infections is rapidly growing worldwide, particularly in Africa. The burden of arboviral infections and diseases is not well scrutinized because of the inefficient surveillance systems in endemic countries. Furthermore, the health systems are fully occupied by the burden of other co-existing febrile illnesses, especially malaria. In this review we summarize the epidemiology and risk factors associated with the major human arboviral diseases and highlight the gap in knowledge, research, and control in Sudan. Published data in English up to March 2019 were reviewed and are discussed to identify the risks and challenges for the control of arboviruses in the country. In addition, the lack of suitable diagnostic tools such as viral genome sequencing, and the urgent need for establishing a genomic database of the circulating viruses and potential sources of entry are discussed. Moreover, the research and healthcare gaps and global health threats are analyzed, and suggestions for developing strategic health policy for the prevention and control of arboviruses with focus on building the local diagnostic and research capacity and establishing an early warning surveillance system for the early detection and containment of arboviral epidemics are offered.

“…It is well documented that four DENV serotypes (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3 and DENV-4) are circulating globally. DENV serotypes 1, 2 and 3 were reported to be endemic in some parts of the country [19][20][21]. However, DENV-4 is yet to be reported in Sudan.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…DENV is endemic in the Sudan and the virus is probably actively circulating throughout the year, with a peak incidence between September and November, which coincides with the high rainy season. The detection of DENV IgM/ IgG antibodies and subsequent recovery of the virus from infected patients have been reported in eastern regions of the Sudan [10,11,[19][20][21][22]. Recently, high incidence of dengue fever has been reported among residence of Kassala state as witnessed by frequent DENVsporadic cases and occuasionalmultiple outbreaks [19,25].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent transmission of dengue virus and associated risk Facors among residents of Kassala state, eastern Sudan

et al. 2020

Background: Acute arboviral infections are distributed worldwide including Sudan, and dengue fever (DENV) is not an exception. The virus activity has recently been frequently reported in Kassala State, eastern Sudan. However, an appropriate epidemiological study would be necessary to provide accurate and precise estimates of the magnitude of recent DENV transmission in this area of endemicity. Methods: In the present investigation, a cross sectional study was conducted to advance beyond the current knowledge of the epidemiology of the disease in Kassala State. The prevalence of the disease was estimated and associated risk factors were determined. Sampled sera were collected and screened for recent dengue transmissionas as determined by DENV-IgM enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The collection of data for risk assessment was supported by a well designed structured questionnaire. Results: The prevalence of recent DENV infection was estimated to be (11.42%). Potential risk factors to DENV seropsitivity include, age (OR = 3.24, CI = 1.81-5.77,p-value = 0.001); low income (OR = 3.75, CI = 1.57-8.93, p-value = 0.027); mosquito control (OR = 4.18, CI = 2.33-7.51, p-value = 0.004); and localities. Conclusion: The present study showed a high rate of circulating DENV IgM antibodies among the participants of the study (11.42%), suggesting recent transmission of DENV in Kassala State, eastern Sudan. The frequent occurrence of DENV infections necessitates the need for improved surveillance programs and prevention measures to combat this important arboviral disease in Sudan.