Seroepidemiology of neutralizing antibodies to Japanese encephalitis virus in Singapore: continued transmission despite abolishment of pig farming?
Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) transmission in Singapore appeared to have ceased after pig farming in Singapore was phased out from the early 1980s. However, the recent detection of neutralizing antibodies to JEV in a population of wild boars in an offshore island, as well as the notification of two human cases of JE in Singapore in 2001, prompted us to reconsider the presence and hence the public health threat of JEV in Singapore. We report here a serological study of animals, birds and humans for neutralizing antibodies to JEV. The results indicate that JEV may still be actively transmitted in the peripheral part of the Singapore island and that regular serological surveys of farm animals and birds, such as chickens, may be useful to further elucidate the activity of JEV in Singapore.
Ting
Shirley Hui Ling
SH
Department of Microbiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Tan
Hwee Cheng
HC
Wong
Wai Kwan
WK
Ng
Mah Lee
ML
Chan
Soh Ha
SH
Ooi
Eng Eong
EE
D000293:Adolescent; D000383:Agriculture / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000276:immunology; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000276:immunology; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004664:Encephalitis Virus, Japanese / Q000276:immunology*; D004672:Encephalitis, Japanese / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D013552:Swine
D000914:Antibodies, Viral