Susceptibility to endemic Aedes-borne viruses among pregnant women in Risaralda, Colombia

Jaime A. Cardona-Ospina, Adriana M. Trujillo, Erika V. Jiménez-Posada, Juan C. Sepúlveda-Arias, Fredy A. Tabares-Villa, Joanne S. Altieri-Rivera, Alejandro Monsalve, Juliana Restrepo-Chica, Daniela Osorio, Daniel Espinoza, Yerun Zhu, Juan D. Castrillón-Spitia, Valentina Henao-SanMartin, David R. Murillo-Garcia, Natalia Millán, Sandra X. Olaya, Ana M. Valencia-Montoya, Hugo A. Bedoya-Arias, Rhuvi Villamizar-Peña, Estefanía Gutierrez-OcampoYeimer Holguin-Rivera, Isabella Cortés-Bonilla, Maria C. Cardona-Trujillo, Alejandra García-Barco, D. Katterine Bonilla-Aldana, Guillermo J. Lagos-Grisales, Alfonso J. Rodríguez-Morales, Matthew H. Collins

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives: Aedes-borne viruses (ABV) affect humans on every inhabited continent and frequently cause epidemics. Recent epidemics of chikungunya and Zika viruses (ZIKV) highlight that preparedness for future epidemics requires assessment of susceptibility, particularly among high-risk groups. We sought to determine immunity against the three major circulating ABV among pregnant women in an ABV-endemic area of Colombia. Methods: A cross-sectional seroprevalence study was performed, enrolling women presenting to Labor and Delivery. Cord blood and maternal peripheral blood samples were obtained. IgG seroprevalence to flaviviruses and chikungunya was determined by ELISA. An abbreviated neutralization test was used to estimate the frequency and magnitude of immunity to Zika and four dengue serotypes. Cluster analyses explored epidemiologic factors associated with seroprevalence. Results: Most women exhibited high levels of neutralizing antibodies to one or more ABV; however, nearly 20% were seronegative for flaviviruses. Our research took place after the epidemic peak of the ZIKV outbreak in Colombia in 2016. However, only 20% of pregnant women had high levels of Zika-neutralizing antibodies consistent with likely protective immunity to ZIKV. Conclusion: Hence, a high proportion of pregnant women in Risaralda remain susceptible to one or more ABV including the teratogenic ZIKV, indicating a risk for future epidemics in this region.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)832-840
Number of pages9
JournalInternational Journal of Infectious Diseases
Volume122
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2022
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Aedes-borne viruses
  • Chikungunya
  • Dengue
  • Pregnancy
  • Seroprevalence
  • Zika

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