Seropositive status of dengue virus infection among blood donors in North Malaysia

Seroprevalence of Asymptomatic Dengue Virus Infection and Its Antibodies Among Healthy/Eligible Saudi Blood Donors: Findings From Holy Makkah City

“… 31 In this study, both anti-DENV IgM and/or IgG antibodies were predominately detected in the serum of the tested donors. Noticeably, the seropositivity for IgM that we reported here (5.5%) points to an ongoing recent infection, and such donors are in a carrier stage of infection, 25 , 26 , 28 , 31 whereas high prevalence of anti-DENV IgG antibody (38.9%) in the circulation of tested donors indicates the high endemicity of dengue disease. 15 , 25 , 26 , 28 On the overview of dengue immunity and pathogenesis, it is well known that the severe clinical forms of dengue disease commonly occur during second or sequential infection with heterogeneous DENV serotypes from those which caused the primary or previous infection.…”

“…Noticeably, the seropositivity for IgM that we reported here (5.5%) points to an ongoing recent infection, and such donors are in a carrier stage of infection, 25 , 26 , 28 , 31 whereas high prevalence of anti-DENV IgG antibody (38.9%) in the circulation of tested donors indicates the high endemicity of dengue disease. 15 , 25 , 26 , 28 On the overview of dengue immunity and pathogenesis, it is well known that the severe clinical forms of dengue disease commonly occur during second or sequential infection with heterogeneous DENV serotypes from those which caused the primary or previous infection. 3 , 4 , 7 , 8 Similarly, lifelong immunity is mediated by IgG neutralizing antibodies against the infecting DENV serotype (so-called homotypic immunity), and these antibodies do not mediate long crossprotective immunity (heterotypic immunity) against other DENV serotypes.…”

“…From a diagnostic standpoint, it can be speculated that donors who were seropositive to DENV-NS1 antigen and/or anti-DENV IgM antibodies were in their ongoing asymptomatic acute DENV infection phase at the time of their donation 25 , 26 , 31 and could act as silent carriers to transmit DENV to their corresponding recipients, 6 , 24 – 27 whereas the high prevalence of anti-DENV IgG seropositivity, the presence of which may indicate previous exposure, 26 could reflect the high endemicity of dengue disease in this region of Saudi Arabia. 12 – 15 …”

“… 5 , 23 , 41 In agreement, it has been postulated that stake holders in blood transfusion practices should consider the crucial role of asymptomatic/subclinical DENV-infected donors as active carriers silently transmit the virus to prospective recipients, and these recipients can develop fever, neutropenia, severe thrombocytopenia, hypotension, and other severe clinical signs of dengue disease. 17 , 25 , 26 , 41 – 43 …”

High seroprevalence of anti-DENV IgM in blood donors in an early outbreak in the Federal District of Brazil, 2019

“…Anti-DENV IgM may overlap with these markers for a few days, since it appears 4 to 6 days after the patients have become symptomatic [15]. Therefore, the presence of anti-DENV IgM in blood donors may point to current ongoing infection, suggesting a carrier stage of the virus who may potentially transmit the infection to recipients [20]. Fortunately, despite the detection of anti-DENV IgM in our samples, no sample was positive for DENV NS1, a marker that overlaps with peak viraemia [21].…”