Sindbis and Middelburg Old World Alphaviruses Associated with Neurologic Disease in Horses, South Africa

Magzoub

Libyan Journal of Medicine

et al. 2019

Vector-borne diseases are responsible for more than 20% of the infectious diseases worldwide. The prevalence of arboviruses transmit diseases to humans in Sudan has not been investigated. Mosquito-borne viral diseases increase globally incidence, including the Sudan. Frequent unknown fever outbreaks have been reported in eastern region, Sudan. However, diagnosis was based exclusively on clinical signs and symptoms without confirmatory laboratory investigations. However, for accurate detection of these viruses in outbreaks, molecular technique is considered. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of six arboviruses in the Kassala state of east Sudan during unknown fever outbreak. A cross sectional hospital-based study was conducted in the Kassala, Teaching Hospital. Blood samples from 119 patients suffering from unknown fever were used for screening of six arboviruses, hepatitis E virus and malarial using molecular techniques and serology. The overall arboviruses seroprevelance was 61.3% (73/119). The highest positivity rate was 73.1% (52/73) chikungunya virus; 29 males and 20 females patients were chikungunya positive. Other arboviruses were circulating in low rate 20.5% (15/73), and 6.8% (5/73) for sindbis and rift valley fever viruses respectively. Hepatitis E virus was negative in all cases and malaria positivity rate 13.4% (16/119). The prevalence of arboviruses among unknown fever patients present to Kassala teaching hospital of eastern region in Sudan is significantly high (61.3%). The chikungunya virus is the predominant causative agent of arboviruses. Molecular techniques such as PCR are important for accurate and rapid diagnosis of this viral outbreak.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and identification of arthropod-transmitted viruses in Kassala state, Eastern Sudan

Magzoub

Libyan Journal of Medicine

et al. 2019

“…We tested all specimens for WNV, Shuni virus, alphaviruses, and equine encephalitis virus and submitted samples for rabies virus testing, if suspected, to Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Onderstepoort, South Africa, as previously described ( 12 ). All WNV-positive cases were tested for AHSV ( 13 ).…”

Section: The Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

West Nile Virus Lineage 2 in Horses and Other Animals with Neurologic Disease, South Africa, 2008–2015

Venter¹,

Pretorius²,

Fuller³

et al. 2017

Emerg. Infect. Dis.

Self Cite

“…In another surveillance study among horses in the country, AHSV, Shuni virus, equine encephalitis virus, Sindbis virus, Middelburg virus, and WNV infections were reported during January 2008 to December 2013 [263]. Blood, tissue, and cerebrospinal fluid samples were tested to find the cause of the underlying febrile illness and neurologic symptoms among the horses.…”

Section: South Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Blood, tissue, and cerebrospinal fluid samples were tested to find the cause of the underlying febrile illness and neurologic symptoms among the horses. Under this surveillance, a total of 623 horses were investigated, out of which eight were diagnosed with Sindbis virus while 44 were infected with Middelburg virus [263]. There was one horse that was infected with only Sindbis virus, which had mild colic symptoms in addition to tongue paralysis and pale mucous membranes.…”

Section: South Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Interestingly, the co-infection of WNV with Sindbis virus resulted in the death of two horses. The horses that were infected with Middelburg virus had febrile illness, and sometimes neurological symptoms, but death occurred in the severe cases of co-infections [263]. These viruses were reported to be vector-borne Old World alphaviruses, having zoonotic potential [264].…”

Section: South Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Systematic Review of Important Viral Diseases in Africa in Light of the ‘One Health’ Concept

et al. 2020

Emerging and re-emerging viral diseases are of great public health concern. The recent emergence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) related coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in December 2019 in China, which causes COVID-19 disease in humans, and its current spread to several countries, leading to the first pandemic in history to be caused by a coronavirus, highlights the significance of zoonotic viral diseases. Rift Valley fever, rabies, West Nile, chikungunya, dengue, yellow fever, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, Ebola, and influenza viruses among many other viruses have been reported from different African countries. The paucity of information, lack of knowledge, limited resources, and climate change, coupled with cultural traditions make the African continent a hotspot for vector-borne and zoonotic viral diseases, which may spread globally. Currently, there is no information available on the status of virus diseases in Africa. This systematic review highlights the available information about viral diseases, including zoonotic and vector-borne diseases, reported in Africa. The findings will help us understand the trend of emerging and re-emerging virus diseases within the African continent. The findings recommend active surveillance of viral diseases and strict implementation of One Health measures in Africa to improve human public health and reduce the possibility of potential pandemics due to zoonotic viruses.