title: Seroprevalence of dengue infection: a cross-sectional survey in mainland Tanzania and on Pemba Island, Zanzibar.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evidence available to date indicates that dengue viruses 1, 2, and 3 could be among the causes of acute fever in eastern Africa. Recently, four reports on dengue infection in travelers and residents have raised concerns over the occurrence of dengue fever in mainland Tanzania and in Zanzibar. The objective of this study was to provide seroprevalence data on dengue infection in Tanzania.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted in 2007 at two peripheral hospitals, one on Pemba Island, Zanzibar and one in Tosamaganga, Iringa Region, mainland Tanzania. Two hundred and two consecutive febrile outpatients were studied for antibodies and viral RNA to assess the circulation of dengue virus in Tanzania.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A seroprevalence of 7.7% was found on Pemba Island and of 1.8% was found in Tosamaganga. No acute cases and no previous infections among patients under 11 years of age were detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings provide the first baseline data on dengue seroprevalence in the country. No recent dengue virus circulation in Tanzania and in the Zanzibar archipelago up until the early 1990s is reported.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Infectious Diseases, "L. Spallanzani", Rome, Italy. francesco.vairo@inmi.it
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vairo
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nicastri
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meschi
authors.forename: Monica Sanè
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Schepisi
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Paglia
authors.forename: Nazario
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bevilacqua
authors.forename: Sabina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mangi
authors.forename: Maria Rosaria
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Sciarrone
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chiappini
authors.forename: Jape
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Racalbuto
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Caro
authors.forename: Maria Rosaria
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Capobianchi
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ippolito
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003715:Dengue / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D003716:Dengue Virus / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007195:Indian Ocean Islands / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology