A Cross Sectional Retrospective Study on Seroprevalence of Chikungunya in Patients Visiting a Tertiary Health Care Centre in Middle Assam, India

Abstract

Samrat Biswas, Kaushik Das*, Dr. Syed Tanvir Alam, Dr. Sonowara Begum and Dr.Mihirjyoti Pathak

Background: The arthropod-borne Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) has the potential to cause widespread outbreaks. Although the presence of CHIKV and its circulation among the Indian population have been documented in many Indian states since its re-emergence in 2005. Testing facilities for CHIKV were scarce in the majority of locations during the COVID-19 outbreak. Chikungunya fever is still thought to be a significant public health concern that results in inflammatory polyarthropathy as a morbidity. For this reason, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we must comprehend and assess the seroprevalence of chikungunya in relation to its research period, seasonal tendency, hospitalization needs, and age-sex distribution.

Methods: This study was done to evaluate the seroprevalence, clinical presentation of CHIKV in the districts of Middle Assam. The samples were tested by CHIKV –IgM Elisa Assay which is developed in-house by NIV Pune.

Results: Our study found that Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) affects all age groups, with no mortality but high morbidity. Neurological symptoms were present in 6.81% of positive cases. The most affected group was 21-40 years old. Most cases were from rural settings, likely due to poor economic and sanitary conditions, and areas suitable for Aedes mosquitoes.

Conclusions: No prior study of ChikV data from the region of middle Assam, India. found that ChikV affects humans of all age group but the most affected age group in our study was 21-40 years. Though no mortality has been reported in our study, but there was high moribidity. we also report the presence of Neurological symptoms in 6.81% of total positive cases.

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