Seroprevalence of arboviruses among blood donors in French Polynesia, 2011–2013. (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Aubry, Maite; Finke, Jérôme; Teissier, Anita; Roche, Claudine; Broult, Julien; Paulous, Sylvie; Desprès, Philippe; Cao-Lormeau, Van-Mai; Musso, Didier
• Is Part Of: International journal of infectious diseases. Volume 41(2015:Dec.)
• Page Start: 11
• Page End: 12
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: French Polynesia -- Seroprevalence -- Blood donors -- Arboviruses -- Dengue -- Pacific; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2015.10.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1201-9712

Abstract

Highlights: We investigated the prevalence of several arboviruses in French Polynesia. Serum samples from 593 blood donors were collected between July 2011 and October 2013. Seroprevalence for at least one serotype of dengue virus (DENV) was 80.3%. Seroprevalence for Zika, Japanese encephalitis, and West Nile viruses was ≤1.5%. These arboviruses (except DENV) had not circulated actively in French Polynesia prior to 2011. Summary: Objectives: French Polynesia is a high epidemic/endemic area for arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses). We recently reported the silent circulation of Ross River virus and absence of active transmission of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) among blood donors sampled before the emergence of Zika virus (ZIKV) and CHIKV in French Polynesia. In this study, the prevalence of the four serotypes of dengue virus (DENV) and the occurrence of circulation of other arboviruses were investigated in blood donors in French Polynesia. Methods: Serum samples from 593 blood donors collected between July 2011 and October 2013 were tested by ELISA for the presence of immunoglobulin G antibodies against each of the four DENV serotypes, ZIKV, Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), and West Nile virus (WNV). Results: It was found that 80.3%, 0.8%, 1.3%, and 1.5% of blood donors were seropositive for at least one DENV serotype, ZIKV, JEV, and WNV, respectively. Conclusions: These results corroborate the expected high transmission of DENV and conversely suggest that no active circulation of ZIKV, JEV, and WNV occurred in French Polynesia before 2011. Information provided by this study may be useful for public health authorities to improve surveillance and implement strategies to prevent the transmission of arboviruses.