Mohammed Hamish, Hayden Mary H, Lee Elise, Santiago Luis M, Krecek Rosina C, Revan Floyd, Hunsperger Elizabeth
Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, West Farm, Saint Kitts and Nevis.
National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, United States.
J Infect Dev Ctries. 2019 Mar 31;13(3):233-239. doi: 10.3855/jidc.10701.
After a large outbreak of dengue virus (DENV) serotype-3 in Saint Kitts and Nevis (SKN) in 2008, we performed a cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence of anti-DENV immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies in expatriate and local persons affiliated with an American veterinary school there.
This campus community comprised mostly expatriate students and faculty and Kittitian administrative staff. In 2009, a stratified random sample of students, faculty and staff was invited to complete an electronic survey to assess risk factors for DENV and provide blood for testing for anti-DENV IgG antibodies by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. IgG-positive specimens were also tested by a 90% plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT90) to determine immunoreactivity to DENV (1-4) serotypes and West Nile virus. Risk factors for anti-DENV IgG seropositivity were determined using simple and adjusted logistic regression.
Of the 118 participants, the overall prevalence of DENV IgG antibodies was 44.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 35.1-53.0%), ranging from 30.1% in students, 100.0% in staff and 57.9% in faculty (p < 0.001). Duration of residence in St. Kitts was the only variable significantly associated with seropositivity on multiple logistic regression (adjusted odds ratio [95% CI]: 1.21 [1.07-1.37]). The serotype of DENV was determined in 11 persons: DENV-1 (n = 4), DENV-2 (n = 3), and DENV-3 (n = 4).
Expatriate students and faculty moving to St. Kitts from non-endemic areas were at high risk of DENV infection. There is a need for increased emphasis on pre-travel mosquito-borne virus prevention education for persons moving to St. Kitts to study and work.
2008年圣基茨和尼维斯（SKN）爆发登革热病毒（DENV）3型大规模疫情后，我们开展了一项横断面研究，以确定与美国一所兽医学校有关联的外籍人员和当地人员中抗登革热病毒免疫球蛋白G（IgG）抗体的流行情况。
该校园社区主要由外籍学生和教职员工以及基提岛行政人员组成。2009年，我们邀请了学生、教职员工的分层随机样本完成一项电子调查，以评估登革热病毒的风险因素，并提供血液样本，通过酶联免疫吸附测定法检测抗登革热病毒IgG抗体。IgG阳性标本还通过90%蚀斑减少中和试验（PRNT90）进行检测，以确定对登革热病毒（1 - 4）血清型和西尼罗河病毒的免疫反应性。使用简单和校正逻辑回归确定抗登革热病毒IgG血清阳性的风险因素。
在118名参与者中，登革热病毒IgG抗体的总体流行率为44.1%（95%置信区间[CI]：35.1 - 53.0%），学生中的流行率为30.1%，工作人员中的流行率为100.0%，教职员工中的流行率为57.9%（p < 0.001）。在多因素逻辑回归中，在圣基茨的居住时间是与血清阳性显著相关的唯一变量（校正比值比[95% CI]：1.21 [1.07 - 1.37]）。在11人中确定了登革热病毒的血清型：登革热病毒1型（n = 4）、登革热病毒2型（n = 3）和登革热病毒3型（n = 4）。
从非流行地区前往圣基茨的外籍学生和教职员工感染登革热病毒的风险很高。有必要加强对前往圣基茨学习和工作的人员进行旅行前蚊媒病毒预防教育。
