Zika, Flavivirus and Malaria Antibody Cocirculation in Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction. Arboviruses and malaria pose a growing threat to public health, affecting not only the general population but also immunocompromised individuals and pregnant women. Individuals in vulnerable groups are at a higher risk of severe complications from the co-circulation and transmission of ZIKV, malaria, and FLAVI fever. In sub-Saharan countries, such as Nigeria, these mosquito-borne infections have clinical presentations that overlap with other diseases (dengue, West Nile virus, and Japanese encephalitis, chikungunya, and O’nyong o’nyong virus), making them a diagnostic challenge for clinicians in regions where they co-circulate. Vertical transmission can have a devastating impact on maternal health and fetal outcomes, including an increased risk of fetal loss and premature birth. Despite the global recognition of the burden of malaria and arboviruses, particularly ZIKV and other flaviviruses, there is limited data on their prevalence in Nigeria. In urban settings, where these diseases are endemic and share common biological, ecological, and economic factors, they may impact treatment outcomes and lead to epidemiological synergy. Hence, it is imperative to conduct sero-epidemiological and clinical studies to better understand the disease burden and hidden endemicity, thereby enabling improved prevention and clinical management. Method. Serum samples collected from outpatients between December 2020 and November 2021 in three regions of Nigeria were tested for the presence of IgG antibody seropositivity against ZIKV and FLAVI using immunoblot serological assay. Results. The overall cohort co-circulation antibody seropositivity of ZIKV, FLAVI and malaria was 24.0% (209/871). A total of 19.2% (167/871) of the study participants had ZIKV-seropositive antibodies and 6.2% (54/871) were FLAVI-seropositive, while 40.0% (348/871) of the subjects had malaria parasite antigens. Regional analysis revealed that participants from the southern region had the highest antibody seropositivity against ZIKV (21.7% (33/152)) and FLAVI (8.6% (13/152)), whereas those from the central region had a higher malaria parasite antigen (68.5% (287/419)). Conclusions. This study represents the largest comparative cross-sectional descriptive sero-epidemiological investigation of ZIKV-FLAVI and malaria cocirculation in Nigeria. The findings of this study revealed increased antibody seropositivity, hidden endemicity, and the burden of ZIKV, FLAVI, and malaria co-circulating in Nigeria.

Global seroprevalence of Zika virus in asymptomatic individuals: A systematic review

“…Seroprevalence studies were conducted in 49 countries and territories, with a total of 63,864 individuals involved. These studies comprised 18 countries in Africa (including Burkina Faso [ 8 ], Cape Verde [ 9 ], Cameroon [ 10 ], Democratic Republic of the Congo [ 11 ], Ethiopia [ 12 ], Gabon [ 13 ], Ghana [ 14 ], Kenya [ 15 , 16 ], Madagascar [ 17 ], Mali [ 18 , 19 ], Nigeria [ 20 – 24 ], Republic of the Congo [ 25 ], Rwanda [ 26 ], Senegal [ 18 ], Sudan [ 27 ], Tanzania [ 28 ], The Gambia [ 18 ], and Zambia [ 29 , 30 ]); 13 countries in the Americas (Bolivia [ 1 ], Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana (see references in S2 Table ), Guatemala [ 31 ], Honduras [ 32 ], Jamaica [ 33 ], Martinique [ 34 ], Mexico [ 32 , 35 ], Nicaragua (references in S2 Table ), Peru [ 36 ], Puerto Rico [ 32 ], and Suriname [ 37 ]); 3 countries in the Eastern Mediterranean (Iran [ 38 ], Iraq [ 39 ], Saudi Arabia [ 40 ]); 3 countries in Europe (Cyprus [ 41 ], France [ 42 ] and Sweden [ 26 ]); 2 countries in Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Thailand (references in S2 Table ); and 10 countries in the Western Pacific region (China [ 43 – 45 ], Fiji […”

GIS-based spatiotemporal mapping of malaria prevalence and exploration of environmental inequalities

“…Despite a modest decrease in malaria prevalence in recent years, as indicated by past research, many individuals globally, particularly in Africa, continue to grapple with malaria due to insufficient socio-economic status and access to treatment resources. (Das et al 2023 ; Mac et al 2023 ; Sarfo et al 2023 ; Taiwo et al 2023 ).…”

Modelling the co-infection of malaria and zika virus disease

“…Ref. [40] conducted a clinical and sero-epidemiological studies to help understand the hidden endemicity and disease burden of zika virus, malaria and other arbovirus in humans. There study showed an increase in hidden endemicity, antibody seropositivity as well as the possibility of zika virus, malaria and other flavivirus co-circulating in Nigeria.…”