Serological evidence of rift valley fever virus among acute febrile patients in Southern Mozambique during and after the 2013 heavy rainfall and flooding: implication for the management of febrile illness.
BACKGROUND
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) remains heavily neglected in humans in Mozambique, even though recent outbreaks were reported in neighboring countries in humans and several cases of RVFV in cattle were reported in several districts in Mozambique.


RESULTS
We conducted a cross sectional study during and after severe flooding that occurred in 2013 in Mozambique. Paired acute and convalescent serum samples were tested from febrile patients attending a primary health care unit in a suburban area of Maputo city for the presence of IgG and IgM antibodies against Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Seroconversion of IgG anti-RVFV was observed in 5 % (10/200) of convalescent patients and specific IgM anti-RVFV was detected in one acute patient (0.5 %; 1/200). All sera from acute patient tested negative by real time PCR.


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, our results suggest that RVF represent an important but neglected cause of febrile illness following periods of flooding in southern Mozambique.
National Institute of Health, Ministry of Health, Av Eduardo Mondlane 1008, Ministry of Health Main Building, 2nd floor, PO Box 264, Maputo, Mozambique. esamogudojr@gmail.com.
Eduardo Samo
ES
Gudo
National Institute of Health, Ministry of Health, Av Eduardo Mondlane 1008, Ministry of Health Main Building, 2nd floor, PO Box 264, Maputo, Mozambique.
Gabriela
G
Pinto
Centre for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, National Institute of Communicable Disease, of the National Health Laboratory Service, Sandringham, South Africa.
Jacqueline
J
Weyer
Centre for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, National Institute of Communicable Disease, of the National Health Laboratory Service, Sandringham, South Africa.
Chantel
C
le Roux
National Institute of Health, Ministry of Health, Av Eduardo Mondlane 1008, Ministry of Health Main Building, 2nd floor, PO Box 264, Maputo, Mozambique.
Arcildo
A
Mandlaze
National Institute of Health, Ministry of Health, Av Eduardo Mondlane 1008, Ministry of Health Main Building, 2nd floor, PO Box 264, Maputo, Mozambique.
Américo Feriano
AF
José
National Institute of Health, Ministry of Health, Av Eduardo Mondlane 1008, Ministry of Health Main Building, 2nd floor, PO Box 264, Maputo, Mozambique.
Argentina
A
Muianga
Centre for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, National Institute of Communicable Disease, of the National Health Laboratory Service, Sandringham, South Africa.|Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Pathology, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Janusz Tadeusz
JT
Paweska
D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D055868:Floods; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009073:Mozambique / Q000453:epidemiology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011891:Rain; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012295:Rift Valley Fever / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012296:Rift Valley fever virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D012698:Serologic Tests; D055815:Young Adult
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D012367:RNA, Viral
Arbovirus; Heavy rainfall; Rift valley fever virus; Sub-Saharan Africa