Author(s)

Kima Donatien^1,2,3, Yeri Esther Hien^1,3, Sawadogo Salam¹, Nebié K. Yacouba¹, Ilboudo P. Denise⁴, Abdoul Rahamani Nikièma⁵, Diallo Mariam^1,3, Kafando Eléonore^1,2, Yves Traoré^1,3

¹Université Joseph Ki-Zerbo, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
²Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Pédiatrique Charles de Gaulle, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
³Laboratoire de Biochimie et d’Immunologie Appliquée (LaBIA), Université Joseph Ki-Zerbo, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
⁴Université de Fada N’Gourma, Fada N’Gourma, Burkina Faso.
⁵Institut de Recherche en Science de la Santé (IRSS), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease caused by four related but antigenically distinct dengue viruses. In the last half-century, the prevalence of dengue fever has increased dramatically (up to 30%) worldwide, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. In Burkina Faso, the last dengue epidemic occurred in 2016, and the epidemiological situation is still poorly documented at the national level. Therefore, the present study aimed to conduct a sentinel seroepidemiology of suspected dengue virus infections from 2017 to 2020 at Charles de Gaulle University Pediatric Hospital Center of Ouagadougou. This investigation was designed to be a descriptive and analytical study. Patients with suspected cases of dengue fever were recruited from January 2017 to December 2020 during general medicine consultation and referred to Charles de Gaulle University Pediatric Hospital Center of Ouagadougou for the serological diagnosis of dengue. Venous blood was collected in dry or EDTA tubes and tested for DENV NS1 antigen, anti-dengue IgM, and anti-dengue IgG using SD Bioline Dengue Duo Rapid Detection Kit (Standard Diagnostic Inc., Korea). A total of 3400 blood samples from clinically suspected dengue cases were analyzed, of which 1784 (52.5%) were males, and 1616 (47.5%) were females. Among the 3400 patients included in the study, 661 (19.4%) were tested at least positive for NS1 antigen, anti-dengue IgM or anti-IgG. Among them, individuals positive for IgG suggesting past dengue virus infection were found in more than a third of 262 (7.7%) of the cases. Approximately, 80.0% (2705/3400) dengue suspected cases and 85.5% (341/399) early or primary dengue infections were recorded in the last four months of the study (September to December 2020), with a peak in mid-October and mid-November. There was no statistically significant difference in seroprevalence between males and females (p = 0.7), but an increasing seropositivity trend with age, from 11.6% for the patient under 5 years group to 39.7% for 30 years and over age group were noted. This study puts in evidence a considerable level of transmission of dengue viruses in Burkina Faso and provides baseline seroprevalence data. The recurrent outbreaks of dengue infection in multiple geographical areas need comprehensive surveillance and a diagnostic system to identify the actual burden and pinpoint the risk factors. A larger study is, therefore, needed to determine the actual prevalence of dengue in Burkina Faso and map the serotypes.

Dengue, Seroepidemiology, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Donatien, K. , Hien, Y. , Salam, S. , Yacouba, N. , Denise, I. , Nikièma, A. , Mariam, D. , Eléonore, K. and Traoré, Y. (2023) Seroepidemiological Study of Dengue Virus Infection Suspected Cases in Burkina Faso. Journal of Biosciences and Medicines, 11, 47-56. doi: 10.4236/jbm.2023.111006.