Laboratory of Parasitology and Ecology, Department of Animal Physiology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé P.O. Box 337, Cameroon.
Institut de Recherche de Yaoundé (IRY), Organisation de Coordination pour la lutte Contre les Endémies en Afrique Centrale (OCEAC), Yaoundé P.O. Box 288, Cameroon.
Viruses. 2022 Sep 27;14(10):2127. doi: 10.3390/v14102127.
Dengue and chikungunya are now widely distributed in Cameroon, but there is still not enough information on their prevalence in different epidemiological settings. This study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of dengue and chikungunya in both urban and rural settings in Cameroon using three diagnostic tools. From December 2019 to September 2021, willing febrile (temperature >38 °C) outpatients visiting four healthcare facilities in the cities of Yaoundé and Dizangué were screened for dengue, and chikungunya. Clinical features of patient were recorded in a form, and their blood samples were analysed using real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (rtRT-PCR), rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assays (ELISA). Odds ratios were used to determine the level of association between socio-demographic factors, clinical features, and infection status. The Kappa coefficient permitted to assess the level of agreement between RDTs and ELISA. Overall, 301 febrile patients were recruited in the study: 198 in Yaoundé and 103 in Dizangué. The prevalence of infection varied with the diagnostic tool used. For dengue diagnostics, 110 patients were positive to rtRT-PCR: 90 (45.45%) in Yaoundé, and 20 (19.42%) in Dizangué. The prevalence of dengue IgM using ELISA varied from 22.3% in Dizangué to 30.8% in Yaoundé. Dengue IgM rate using RDTs was 7.6% in Yaoundé and 3.9% in Dizangué. For chikungunya, one (0.5%) patient (Yaoundé, suburb) was positive to rtRT-PCR. The prevalence of chikungunya IgM according to ELISA varied from 18.4% in Dizangué to 21.7% in Yaoundé, while it was 4.5% in Yaoundé and 12.6% in Dizangué with RDTs. Only abdominal and retro-orbital pains were significantly associated with acute dengue infection. All four dengue serotypes were recorded, with a predominance of DENV-3 (35.45%) and DENV-4 (25.45%). Rapid Diagnostic Tests for either chikungunya or dengue displayed very poor sensitivity. This study further confirms the high endemicity of both dengue and chikungunya in Yaoundé and Dizangué. These data stress the need for active surveillance and the implementation of vector control measures to prevent the occurrence of outbreaks across the country.
登革热和基孔肯雅热在喀麦隆广泛分布，但不同流行病学环境下的流行情况仍缺乏足够的信息。本研究采用三种诊断工具，评估喀麦隆城乡地区登革热和基孔肯雅热的流行情况。2019 年 12 月至 2021 年 9 月，在雅温得和迪赞盖的四个医疗机构就诊的发热（体温>38°C）门诊患者自愿接受登革热和基孔肯雅热检测。将患者的临床特征记录在表格中，并使用实时逆转录酶聚合酶链反应（rtRT-PCR）、快速诊断检测（RDT）和酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）分析其血液样本。使用优势比确定社会人口因素、临床特征和感染状况之间的关联程度。Kappa 系数评估 RDT 和 ELISA 之间的一致性水平。总体而言，研究共招募了 301 名发热患者：雅温得 198 名，迪赞盖 103 名。感染率因诊断工具而异。对于登革热诊断，110 名患者 rtRT-PCR 阳性：雅温得 90 名（45.45%），迪赞盖 20 名（19.42%）。ELISA 检测登革热 IgM 的流行率在迪赞盖为 22.3%，在雅温得为 30.8%。RDT 检测登革热 IgM 阳性率在雅温得为 7.6%，迪赞盖为 3.9%。基孔肯雅热方面，1 名（0.5%）患者（雅温得郊区）rtRT-PCR 阳性。ELISA 检测基孔肯雅热 IgM 的流行率在迪赞盖为 18.4%，在雅温得为 21.7%，而 RDT 检测的雅温得为 4.5%，迪赞盖为 12.6%。只有腹部和眶后疼痛与急性登革热感染显著相关。共记录了四种登革热血清型，其中 DENV-3（35.45%）和 DENV-4（25.45%）占优势。用于检测基孔肯雅热或登革热的快速诊断检测显示出非常低的灵敏度。本研究进一步证实了雅温得和迪赞盖登革热和基孔肯雅热的高地方性。这些数据强调需要进行主动监测并实施病媒控制措施，以防止全国爆发疫情。
