Risk Factors for Concurrent Malaria and Arbovirus Infections in Handeni, Northeastern Tanzania

Abstract

Aim: We aimed to understand risk factors associated with seropositivity to chikungunya and dengue infections in an area endemic for malaria in a cross sectional analytical study. Study Design: A structured questionnaire was used for interview to study risk factors for CHK and DEN exposure whereas serology (ELISA) for anti-Chikungunya and Dengue virus immunoglobulin M detection was used to determine exposure to the arboviruses. Microscopy was used for malaria parasites detection to understand the extent of interaction between arboviruses and malaria. Results: A total of 448 participants were screened for anti- chikungunya/dengue IgM and malaria. A seroprevalence of 15.6% and 0.2% was found for Chikungunya and Dengue respectively. Age, less than 16 years (p=0.011) and malaria positivity (p=0.001) were found to be significant risk factors for Chikungunya IgM seropositivity. Female gender, not keeping livestock, using bed net and travelling outside the study area were associated with reduced risk for CHIKV seropositivity by 28%, 24%, 29% and 37%, respectively. Not using a bed net was twice as much more likely to be malaria-Chikungunya IgM positive compared to bed net use (OR= 2.19; p= 0.198). Conclusion: There is ongoing, transmission of arboviruses in the study region. Chikungunya virus and its co-occurrence with malaria was found to be common in the study population but not Dengue virus. Surveillance of arbovirus transmission in malaria endemic areas should be strengthened to be able to predict fatal outbreaks before they occur.