Publication: Seroprevalence of Scrub Typhus in Patients Attending Dhulikhel Hospital, Kavre
Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background
Scrub typhus is a largely ignored tropical disease and a leading cause of
undifferentiated febrile illness. It is caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi. Scrub Typhus
is frequently observed in South Asian countries. However, clear epidemiological
information of this disease is lacking in case of Nepal. Nepal has shown steady
increase in cases of Scrub Typhus since 2015. The epidemiological data related to
this disease would support the decision making and surveillance design for early
outbreak detection and immediate responses including prevention and treatment
of scrub typhus in Nepal.
Objective
To understand prevalence of Scrub Typhus in subjects who had visited outpatient
department at Dhulikhel Hospital.
Method
In this study, we have studied antibody test data (n=784) for Scrub Typhus from 2019
to 2021. The tests were performed on serum samples of patients who had visited
OPD at Dhulikhel Hospital with fever lasting more than 5 days. The kit used in analysis
was Scrub Typhus Detect™ IgM ELISA Kit from InBios International.
Result
Out of the total subjects (n=784), 133 were positive (16.9%) for IgM antibody of
Scrub Typhus. The positivity in female (18.6%) was higher than the male subjects
(15.3%). The positivity rate was variable among the different age groups, with highest
positivity for age group 0-14 years (25%). The seasonal variation was also observed
among the seropositive cases.
Conclusion
Scrub Typhus being a neglected tropical disease has high prevalence. It can be
postulated that female subjects and subjects of age group 0-14 years are vulnerable
to the infection with Scrub Typhus. There is need to increase the surveillance of
Scrub Typhus to add the knowledge for diagnosis and treatment.
KEY WORDS
ELISA, IgM, Scrub Typhus, Seroprevalence
Description
Madhup SK,1Shrestha R,2,3Katuwal N,3 Magar SR,1 Shrestha S,1 Bhandari S,1 Tamrakar D3,4
1Department of Microbiology
2Department of Pharmacology
3Research and Development Division
4Department of Community Medicine
Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences
Dhulikhel, Kavre, Nepal
Keywords
ELISA, IgM, Scrub Typhus, Seroprevalence