title: A Tale of Two Flaviviruses: A Seroepidemiological Study of Dengue Virus and West Nile Virus Transmission in the Ouest and Sud-Est Departments of Haiti.
abstract: Though plans to eliminate malaria from the island of Hispaniola have recently received much attention, arbovirus surveillance continues to be largely neglected in Haiti. To support surveillance efforts and encourage vector-control strategies, a cross-sectional study of dengue virus (DENV) and West Nile virus (WNV) transmission was conducted using standard seroepidemiological methods. Blood samples (N = 673) were collected from 278 males and 395 females from three locations in the Ouest and Sud-Est Departments of Haiti. Serum was separated and tested for the presence of anti-DENV and anti-WNV immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Anti-DENV IgG antibodies were detected in 72.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 68.7, 75.5) of the sample population; with no significant differences in seroprevalence by study location, participant gender, or age group (P > 0.1, in all tests). Anti-WNV IgG antibodies were detected in only 1% (95% CI = 0.3, 1.8) of the sample population, all which originated from participants located in Gressier. The high prevalence of anti-DENV IgG antibodies among all age groups, including those in the youngest age group (2-5 years of age), suggests hyperendemic transmission of DENV in the Ouest and Sud-Est Departments of Haiti. In contrast, the relative absence of anti-WNV IgG antibodies, even among older population members, further supports the notion that WNV transmission in this population is largely absent. These findings highlight the large burden of disease from DENV and the need for enhanced arbovirus surveillance and implementation of vector control strategies throughout Haiti.
authors.affiliation: Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, Florida.|Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Weppelmann
authors.affiliation: Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.|Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Florida.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Burne
authors.affiliation: Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.|Department of Global and Community Health, College of Health and Human Services, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia.
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: von Fricken
authors.affiliation: Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.|Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
authors.forename: Maha A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Elbadry
authors.affiliation: Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.|Department of Health Services, Research, Management, and Policy, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
authors.forename: Madsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beau De Rochars
authors.affiliation: Department of Global and Community Health, College of Health and Human Services, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia.|Laboratoire National de Santé Publique (LNSP), Ministère de la Santé et de la Population (MSPP), Port au Prince, Haiti.
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boncy
authors.affiliation: Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida. bokech@ufl.edu.|Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
authors.forename: Bernard A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Okech
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003715:Dengue / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology*; D003716:Dengue Virus; D005260:Female; D006205:Haiti / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology*; D014902:West Nile virus; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral