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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research article

Seroprevalence report on tick-borne encephalitis virus and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus among Malaysian’s farm workers

Authors: Munirah Mohd Shukri, Kai Ling Kho, Masoumeh Ghane Kisomi, Rafidah Lani, Suria Marlina, Siti Fatimah Muhd Radzi, Sun Tee Tay, Li Ping Wong, Awang Bulgiba Awang Mahmud, Quaza Nizamuddin Hassan Nizam, Sazaly Abu Bakar, Keivan Zandi

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Background

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) are important tick-borne viruses. Despite their wide geographical distribution and ease of acquisition, the prevalence of both viruses in Malaysia is still unknown. This study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence for TBEV and CCHFV among Malaysian farm workers as a high-risk group within the population.

Methods

We gave questionnaires to 209 farm workers and invited them to participate in the study. Eighty-five agreed to do so. We then collected and tested sera for the presence of anti-TBEV IgG (immunoglobulin G) and anti-CCHFV IgG using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. We also tested seroreactive samples against three other related flaviviruses: dengue virus (DENV), West Nile virus (WNV) and Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) using the ELISA method.

Results

The preliminary results showed the presence of anti-TBEV IgG in 31 (36.5 %) of 85 sera. However, when testing all the anti-TBEV IgG positive sera against the other three antigenically related flaviviruses to exclude possible cross reactivity, only five (4.2 %) sera did not show any cross reactivity. Interestingly, most (70.97 %) seropositives subjects mentioned tick-bite experience. However, there was no seroreactive sample for CCHFV.

Conclusions

These viruses migrate to neighbouring countries so they should be considered threats for the future, despite the low seroprevalence for TBEV and no serological evidence for CCHFV in this study. Therefore, further investigation involving a large number of human, animal and tick samples that might reveal the viruses’ true prevalence is highly recommended.
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Metadata
Title
Seroprevalence report on tick-borne encephalitis virus and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus among Malaysian’s farm workers
Authors
Munirah Mohd Shukri
Kai Ling Kho
Masoumeh Ghane Kisomi
Rafidah Lani
Suria Marlina
Siti Fatimah Muhd Radzi
Sun Tee Tay
Li Ping Wong
Awang Bulgiba Awang Mahmud
Quaza Nizamuddin Hassan Nizam
Sazaly Abu Bakar
Keivan Zandi
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-1901-4

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