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Sindato C, Karimuribo ED, Vairo F, Misinzo G, Rweyemamu MM, Hamid MMA, Haider N, Tungu PK, Kock R, Rumisha SF, Mbilu T, Ntoumi F, Zumla A, Mboera LEG. Rift Valley fever seropositivity in humans and domestic ruminants and associated risk factors in Sengerema, Ilala, and Rufiji districts, Tanzania. Int J Infect Dis 2022; 122:559-565. [PMID: 35811085 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2022.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Data on Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) prevalence in urban settings and pastoral areas of Tanzania are scarce. We performed a cross-sectional study of RVFV seroprevalence and determinants in humans and animals from Ilala, Rufiji, and Sengerema districts of Tanzania. METHODS Blood samples from the study participants were tested for anti-RVFV immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Logistic regression was used to determine association between exposure risk practices and RVFV seropositivity. RESULTS The study involved 664 humans, 361 cattle, 394 goats, and 242 sheep. The overall anti-RVFV IgG seroprevalence in humans and animals was 2.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.01-0.04) and 9.5% (n = 95, 95% CI 0.08-0.12), respectively. Seroprevalence in humans in Rufiji, Ilala, and Sengerema was 3.0% (n = 225, 95% CI 0.01-0.06), 1.8% (n = 230, 95% CI-0.005- 0.04), and 1.4% (n = 209, 95% CI 0.01-0.04), respectively (P >0.05). Seroprevalence in animals in Sengerema, Rufiji, and Ilala was 12.1% (n = 40, 95% CI 0.09-0.16), 11.1% (n = 37, 95% CI 0.08-0.15), and 5.4% (n = 18, 95% CI 0.03-0.08), respectively (P = 0.006). Handling of carcasses increased the odds of RVFV seropositivity 12-fold (odds ratio 11.84, 95% CI 1.97-71.16). CONCLUSION The study confirms previous occurrence of RVFV in multiple species in the study districts. Animal handling practices appear to be essential determinants of seropositivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Calvin Sindato
- SACIDS Foundation for One Health, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania; National Institute for Medical Research, Tabora Research Centre, Tabora, Tanzania.
| | - Esron D Karimuribo
- SACIDS Foundation for One Health, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania; Department of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania.
| | - Francesco Vairo
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani, Rome, Italy.
| | - Gerald Misinzo
- SACIDS Foundation for One Health, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania; Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Parasitology and Biotechnology, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania.
| | - Mark M Rweyemamu
- SACIDS Foundation for One Health, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania.
| | | | - Najmul Haider
- The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hatfield, United Kingdom.
| | - Patrick K Tungu
- National Institute for Medical Research, Amani Research Centre, Muheza, Tanzania.
| | - Richard Kock
- The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hatfield, United Kingdom.
| | - Susan F Rumisha
- National Institute for Medical Research, The Headquarters, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Malaria Atlas Project, Geospatial Health and Development, Telethon Kids Institute, West Perth, Australia.
| | - Togolai Mbilu
- National Institute for Medical Research, Tabora Research Centre, Tabora, Tanzania.
| | - Francine Ntoumi
- Fondation Congolaise pour la Recherche Médicale, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo; Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University Marien Ngouabi, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo; University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Alimuddin Zumla
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Centre for Clinical Microbiology, University College London, United Kingdom; NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Leonard E G Mboera
- SACIDS Foundation for One Health, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania.
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Ahmed A, Mahmoud I, Eldigail M, Elhassan RM, Weaver SC. The Emergence of Rift Valley Fever in Gedaref State Urges the Need for a Cross-Border One Health Strategy and Enforcement of the International Health Regulations. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10070885. [PMID: 34358035 PMCID: PMC8308630 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10070885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
This study investigated the causative agent of a haemorrhagic fever epidemic in Gedaref state, south-east Sudan. Six cases of febrile illness with haemorrhagic manifestations presented at outpatient health-clinics. Blood samples were collected from the patients and shipped to Khartoum where they were tested for dengue virus (DENV), chikungunya virus (CHIKV), and Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) using real-time qPCR. Fifty percent (3/6) of them tested positive for RVFV and neither DENV or CHIKV was detected. All patients were males between 20 and 48 years old who had no history of recent travel. This finding describes the first emergence of RVFV in Gedaref state. Considering that the state hosts a major market of livestock, and it has one of the largest-seasonal open pastures in the country that is usually flooded with herds from the neighbouring states and countries during the rainy season, this emergence could represent a major threat to public health in the region and countries importing animals and/or animal products from east Africa. Therefore, we urge the policymakers of the health and animal resources sectors to implement a one health strategy with a well-established early warning surveillance and response system to prevent the establishment of the disease in the area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayman Ahmed
- Institute of Endemic Diseases, University of Khartoum, Khartoum 11111, Sudan
- World Reference Center for Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77550, USA;
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77550, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +249-123997091
| | - Iman Mahmoud
- National Public Health Laboratory, Sudan Federal Ministry of Health, Khartoum 11111, Sudan; (I.M.); (M.E.); (R.M.E.)
| | - Mawahib Eldigail
- National Public Health Laboratory, Sudan Federal Ministry of Health, Khartoum 11111, Sudan; (I.M.); (M.E.); (R.M.E.)
| | - Rehab M. Elhassan
- National Public Health Laboratory, Sudan Federal Ministry of Health, Khartoum 11111, Sudan; (I.M.); (M.E.); (R.M.E.)
| | - Scott C. Weaver
- World Reference Center for Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77550, USA;
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77550, USA
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