Seroprevalence of Borrelia, Rickettsia and Hantaviruses in North Vietnam

Abstract

Purpose: Borrelia (BOR), Rickettsia (RICK) and Hantaviruses (HANT) can make significant contribution in morbidity of vector-borne and emerging infectious disease. Hereby we aimed to investigate the indirect evidences of presence of these pathogens in the rural areas of North Vietnam by studying the possibility of contact with vectors and reservoirs hosts and the seroprevalence in adult healthy population Methods & Materials: 220 and 121 healthy residents of communes Ma Ly Pho (Phong Thổ District, Lai Chau province) and Tà Xùa (Bắc Yên District, Son La province) in North Vietnam were interviewed and serosurveyed. 61% and 58% of studied populations respectively were female, average age was 40.4±14.5 and 38,9±14.8 years. The prevalence of IgM/IgG to RICK and HANT were studied using Rickettsia Conorii ELISA IgG/IgM kit (Vircell, Spain) and NovaLisa Hantavirus IgG/IgM kit (NovaTec, Germany). IgM/IgG to BOR were detected using the microarray containing 13 and 14 antigens of Borrelia miyamotoi (Bm) and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl) respectively (CRIE, Russia). Results: 98% and 65% of respondents in communes Ma Ly Pho and Tà Xùa respectively had rural occupations. 95% and 90% confirmed the presence of rodents near home. 38% and 37% caught, killed or cooked rodents and bats. 8% and 3% noticed tick-bites in the past.IgM to RICK, HANT, Bbsl and Bm were detected in 23, 12, 25 and 2 out of 220 and in 4, 0, 21 and 2 out of 121 samples of healthy residents in communes Ma Ly Pho and Tà Xùa respectively. IgG to indicate pathogens were detected in 5, 5, 53 and 4 out of 220 and in 3, 4, 27 and 2 out of 121 samples. Conclusion: We showed the high possibility of contact with vector and host animals and high seroprevalence of RICK, HANT and BOR among the rural population in North Vietnam. Future investigations of acute febrile patients and vector and host animals are needed to find out the exact causative agents and to estimate the incidence of these diseases.