High seroprevalence of chikungunya virus antibodies among pregnant women living in an urban area in Benin, West Africa

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2015 Jun;92(6):1133-6. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.14-0092. Epub 2015 May 4.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of antichikungunya virus (anti-CHIKV) antibodies in pregnant women living in an urban area of Benin (West Africa). Results were obtained by screening sera collected in 2006 and 2007 with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for anti-CHIKV immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM. Positive results were confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence test and microneutralization assay. We found that a large proportion (36.1%) of pregnant women living in Cotonou had specific IgG against CHIKV, indicating a high seroprevalence of the infection in urban southern Benin, whereas no active cases of CHIKV infection were detected.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology
  • Benin / epidemiology
  • Chikungunya Fever / epidemiology*
  • Chikungunya Fever / immunology
  • Chikungunya Fever / virology
  • Chikungunya virus / immunology*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / epidemiology*
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Urban Population / statistics & numerical data
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral