Serological evidence of Zika virus infection in febrile patients at Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Accra Ghana
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Date
2019-06-05
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BMC Research Notes
Abstract
Objective: Increase in the evidence of global occurrence of Zika viral infection suggests that in Africa the circulation
of the virus which causes 80% of asymptomatic infection could be undetected and/or overlooked. We sought to
serologically detect Zika virus infection in febrile patients at Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Ghana.
Results: Of the 160 patient serum samples analyzed, 33 were found to have antibodies against Zika virus infection.
Among the sero-positives 30 (91%) of the cases were anti-Zika virus IgM with the 21–30-year age group recording the
highest number of 8 (26%) and 2 (7%) cases being the least for the 61 years and above age group. All sero-positive
febrile patients developed at least one symptom consistent with Zika virus infection: 33 (100%) fever, 25 (76%) muscle
pain, 24 (73%) joint pain, and conjunctivitis 2 (6%). Digestive symptoms recorded include 16 (49%) nausea, 12 (36%)
vomiting and diarrhea 18 (55%). In addition, 28 (85%) loss of appetite, 14 (75%) rapid respiration and chest pain 15
(42%) were reported by seropositive febrile patients. Our data indicates exposure to Zika virus which suggests the
possible circulation of the virus among febrile patients in Ghana with a sero-prevalence rate of 20.6%.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Zika virus, Seroprevalence, Anti-Zika virus immunoglobulins M and G (IgM and IgG) antibodies, Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)