title: Orthobunyavirus antibodies among humans in selected parts of the Rift Valley and northeastern Kenya.
abstract: Ngari, Bunyamwera, Ilesha, and Germiston viruses are among the mosquito-borne human pathogens in the Orthobunyavirus genus, family Bunyaviridae, associated with febrile illness. Although the four orthobunyaviruses have been isolated from mosquito and/or tick vectors sampled from different geographic regions in Kenya, little is known of human exposure in such areas. We conducted a serologic investigation to determine whether orthobunyaviruses commonly infect humans in Kenya. Orthobunyavirus-specific antibodies were detected by plaque reduction neutralization tests in 89 (25.8%) of 345 persons tested. Multivariable analysis revealed age and residence in northeastern Kenya as risk factors. Implementation of acute febrile illness surveillance in northeastern Kenya will help to detect such infections.
authors.affiliation: 1Human Health Division, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, Kenya.|2Zoonoses Research Unit, Department Medical Virology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.|3Centre for Virus Research, Department of Medical Virology, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: Collins
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Odhiambo
authors.affiliation: 2Zoonoses Research Unit, Department Medical Virology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.|4Global Disease Detection, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: Marietjie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Venter
authors.affiliation: 2Zoonoses Research Unit, Department Medical Virology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Swanepoel
authors.affiliation: 1Human Health Division, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, Kenya.|3Centre for Virus Research, Department of Medical Virology, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D002042:Bunyamwera virus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002044:Bunyaviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D009033:Culicidae / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016851:Orthobunyavirus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013987:Ticks / Q000821:virology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Arboviruses; Bunyaviridae; Kenya; Orthobunyavirus