Seroprevalence of dengue, Japanese encephalitis and Zika among long-term expatriates in Thailand
6
item.page.dc.date.issued
2024-03-01
item.page.dc.type
item.page.dc.identifier.issn
11951982
item.page.dc.identifier.eissn
17088305
item.page.dc.identifier.doi
item.page.dc.identifier.scopus
2-s2.0-85186637466
item.page.dc.identifier.pmid
38335250
item.page.oaire.citation.title
Journal of Travel Medicine
item.page.oaire.citation.volume
31
item.page.oaire.citation.issue
2
item.page.dc.rights.holder
SCOPUS
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Journal of Travel Medicine Vol.31 No.2 (2024)
punsarn.item.page.citation
Kitro A., Imad H.A., Pisutsan P., Matsee W., Sirikul W., Sapbamrer R., Rapheal E., Fernandez S., Cotrone T.S., Farmer A.R., Hunsawong T., Silachamroon U., Chatapat L., Olanwijitwong J., Salee P., Anderson K.B., Piyaphanee W. Seroprevalence of dengue, Japanese encephalitis and Zika among long-term expatriates in Thailand. Journal of Travel Medicine Vol.31 No.2 (2024). doi:10.1093/jtm/taae022 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/97613
item.page.dc.title
Seroprevalence of dengue, Japanese encephalitis and Zika among long-term expatriates in Thailand
item.page.dc.contributor.author
item.page.oairecerif.author.affiliation
Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University
Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University
Norton College of Medicine
Research Institute for Microbial Diseases
Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Bangkok
SUNY Upstate Medical University
Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Thailand
School of Public Health
Chiang Mai University
Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University
Norton College of Medicine
Research Institute for Microbial Diseases
Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Bangkok
SUNY Upstate Medical University
Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Thailand
School of Public Health
Chiang Mai University
item.page.dc.contributor.correspondence
item.page.dc.contributor.other
item.page.dc.description.abstract
Background: Travel to Southeast Asia increases the likelihood of acquiring mosquito-borne Flavivirus infections such as dengue (DENV), Japanese encephalitis (JEV) and Zika viruses (ZIKV). Expatriates are long-term travellers who have a higher risk of mosquito-borne illness at their destination country. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of DENV, JEV and ZIKV infections and the determinants contributing to seropositivity among expatriates living in Thailand. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed from December 2017 to February 2020. Expatriates from non-Flavivirus endemic countries were recruited. 5 mL of blood was collected for DENV 1–4, JEV and ZIKV antibody testing by plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT50). Individuals with vaccination histories or diagnoses for dengue, Japanese encephalitis, yellow fever and tick-borne encephalitis were excluded. Results: Among 254 participants, most participants (83.1%) were male, the mean age was 65 years and the median duration of stay in Thailand was 6 years. Seroprevalence rate of any Flavivirus, non-specific DENV, DENV1–4, JEV and ZIKV were 34.3, 30.7, 20.5, 18.1, 18.9, 10.6, 4.7 and 2.8%, respectively. The presence of neutralizing antibodies against DENV1–4 positively correlates with the duration of stay in Thailand. DENV seropositivity was associated with living in urban areas (aOR 2.75, 95% CI 1.36–5.57). Expatriates were unlikely to have detectable anti-JEV antibodies regardless of time spent in a JEV-endemic area. No risk factors were identified that were significantly associated with JEV or ZIKV seropositivity. Only 48.4% received pre-travel counselling services, while only 18.9% visited a travel medicine specialist. Conclusions: A high proportion (34.3%) of long-term expatriates living in Thailand were seropositive for flavivirus, mainly from dengue (30.7%). To minimize risk, travel medicine practitioners should provide adequate pre-travel health risk information on mosquito-borne flavivirus infection and offer advice on mosquito bite prevention strategies. Dengue vaccine might be considered in high-risk travellers such as long-term expatriate.