Serological Data Shows Low Levels of Chikungunya Exposure in Senegalese Nomadic Pastoralists
Mame Cheikh Seck,
Aida Sadikh Badiane,
Julie Thwing,
Delynn Moss,
Fatou Ba Fall,
Jules Francois Gomis,
Awa Bineta Deme,
Khadim Diongue,
Mohamed Sy,
Aminata Mbaye,
Tolla Ndiaye,
Aminata Gaye,
Yaye Die Ndiaye,
Mamadou Alpha Diallo,
Daouda Ndiaye,
Eric Rogier
Affiliations
Mame Cheikh Seck
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar 12500, Senegal
Aida Sadikh Badiane
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar 12500, Senegal
Julie Thwing
Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
Delynn Moss
Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
Fatou Ba Fall
Senegal National Malaria Control Program, Dakar 999066, Senegal
Jules Francois Gomis
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar 12500, Senegal
Awa Bineta Deme
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar 12500, Senegal
Khadim Diongue
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar 12500, Senegal
Mohamed Sy
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar 12500, Senegal
Aminata Mbaye
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar 12500, Senegal
Tolla Ndiaye
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar 12500, Senegal
Aminata Gaye
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar 12500, Senegal
Yaye Die Ndiaye
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar 12500, Senegal
Mamadou Alpha Diallo
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar 12500, Senegal
Daouda Ndiaye
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar 12500, Senegal
Eric Rogier
Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
The chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is spread by Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus mosquitos worldwide; infection can lead to disease including joint pain, fever, and rash, with some convalescent persons experiencing chronic symptoms. Historically, CHIKV transmission has occurred in Africa and Asia, but recent outbreaks have taken place in Europe, Indonesia, and the Americas. From September to October 2014, a survey was undertaken with nomadic pastoralists residing in the northeast departments of Senegal. Blood dried on filter paper (dried blood spots; DBS) were collected from 1465 participants of all ages, and assayed for Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against CHIKV E1 antigen by a bead-based multiplex assay. The overall seroprevalence of all participants to CHIKV E1 was 2.7%, with no persons under 10 years of age found to be antibody positive. Above 10 years of age, clear increases of seroprevalence and IgG levels were observed with increasing age; 7.6% of participants older than 50 years were found to be positive for anti-CHIKV IgG. Reported net ownership, net usage, and gender were all non-significant explanatory variables of seropositivity. These data show a low-level historical exposure of this pastoralist population to CHIKV, with no evidence of recent CHIKV transmission in the past decade.