Seroepidemiology of Respiratory Syncytial Virus infection in rural and semi-rural areas of the Littoral Region of Cameroon

Abstract

Background: The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has been established as a leading cause of acute lower respiratory illness (ALRI) in infants and children. In 2015, the global disease burden (GBD) study estimated that the overall RSV-ALRI mortality could be as high as 118200, with most death occurring in low- and middle-incomes countries (LMICs). This study aimed to assess the burden of RSV infection among children less than two years with acute respiratory infections (ARI) in the littoral region of Cameroon.Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study in seven health in the littoral region of Cameroon. Venous blood was collected using serum separation tubes from eligible children who visited these healthcare facilities with acute respiratory infections. ELISA testing was used to assess the seroprevalence of anti-IgM RSV for the total population and by selected demographic and health parameters and potential risk factors. Results: The overall RSV-associated ARI seroprevalence was 33% (95%CI:23.6-42.3; 33/100 children). The only demographic factor significantly associated with RSV acquisition was age of six months and below (odds ratio: 7.54 (2.62, 23.36); p=0.000). Children who were concomitantly infected with malaria had a lower risk of RSV infection (odds ratio: 0.38 (0.14, 0.95; P = 0.03). Conclusions: The RSV burden is high among children less than two years with ARI in the littoral region of Cameroon. There is a need for an effective public health RSV surveillance system with standard laboratory techniques and equipment to better understand the RSV disease age-specific incidence, seasonality, risk factors and RSV burden among patients in communities in Cameroon.