Journal List > Pediatr Infect Vaccine > v.25(3) > 1109149

Lee, Kim, and Kim: Seroprevalence of Dengue Virus Antibody in Korea

Abstract

Purpose

The number of dengue fever cases is rising due to increasing overseas travel. Vaccination makes severe dengue fever in seronegative individuals after vaccination when they exposure to wild-type dengue virus. We investigated the seroepidemiology of the dengue virus for monitoring of Korean dengue virus immunity and establishing the prevention of dengue infection.

Methods

The study was based on 446 residual sera collected from 98 infants (2 months to 1 year old), 152 adolescents (13 to 19 years old), 90 adults (20 to 50 years old), and 106 elderly participants (more than 65 years old) for other studies. Antibody levels for dengue virus immunoglobulin G (IgG) in each age group were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). For each dengue virus IgG positive or equivocal result, an IgG ELISA was performed for Japanese encephalitis virus.

Results

Of the 446 serum samples, only 1 (0.2%) adolescent had a positive result from the dengue IgG antibody test. In the dengue virus IgG antibody test, 14 (3.1%) samples showed equivocal results (10 adolescents and 4 elderly). In the 1 positive case of dengue virus IgG, the Japanese encephalitis IgG test was also positive. In the 14 equivocal cases of dengue virus IgG, there were 6 positive, 3 equivocal, and 5 negative of Japanese encephalitis IgG.

Conclusions

The seroprevalence rate of dengue virus was very low in Koreans. This study provides important data for establishing the policy for preventive measures of dengue fever. It will be necessary to continuously monitor for dengue virus immunity.

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1

The result of JEV IgG ELISA for 15 Dengue positive and equivocal serum.

Abbreviations: JEV, Japanese encephalitis virus; IgG, immunoglobulin G; ELISA, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
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Table 1

Demographic characteristics of the subjects (n=446)

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Characteristics Infant group (n=98) Adolescent group (n=152) Adult group (n=90) Elderly group (n=106)
Age (yr)
Mean 0.5 15.9 32.0 74.6
Range 0.2–0.9 13–19 20–49 68–85
Sex, No. (%)
Male Unknown 93 (61.2) 36 (40.0) 56 (52.8)
Female Unknown 59 (38.8) 54 (60.0) 50 (47.2)
Table 2

Seroprevalence results of Dengue IgG ELISA in infant, adolescent, adult and elderly groups

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Variables Infant group (n=98) Adolescent group (n=152) Adult group (n=90) Elderly group (n=106) Total (n=446)
Negative* 98 (100.0) 141 (92.8) 90 (100.0) 102 (96.2) 431 (96.6)
Equivocal 0 (0.0) 10 (6.6) 0 (0.0) 4 (3.8) 14 (3.1)
Positive 0 (0.0) 1 (0.6) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 1 (0.2)
Values are presented as number (%).
*Negative, ISR of <1.65; Equivocal, ISR of 1.65 to 2.85; Positive, ISR of >2.85.
Abbreviations: IgG, immunoglobulin G; ELISA, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; ISR, immune status ratio.
Table 3

Comparison of serological results of Dengue and JEV IgG ELISA for 15 Dengue positive and equivocal serum

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Dengue IgG ELISA JEV IgG ELISA
Positive Equivocal Negative Total
Positive 1 0 0 1
Equivocal 6 3 5 14
Total 7 3 5 15
Abbreviations: IgG, immunoglobulin G; JEV, Japanese encephalitis virus; ELISA, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Notes

Funding This study was supported by the 2017 grant of Korean Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and the Ewha Womans University Department of Pediatrics Research Fund (2015EUPR0802).

Conflict of Interest No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Author Contributions

  • Conceptualization: Lee JH, Kim HW, Kim KH.

  • Data curation: Lee JH, Kim HW, Kim KH.

  • Formal analysis: Lee JH, Kim HW.

  • Funding acquisition: Lee JH, Kim HW.

  • Investigation: Lee JH, Kim HW.

  • Methodology: Lee JH, Kim HW.

  • Project administration: Lee JH, Kim HW.

  • Resources: Lee JH, Kim HW, Kim KH.

  • Software: Lee JH, Kim HW.

  • Supervision: Lee JH, Kim HW, Kim KH.

  • Validation: Lee JH, Kim HW.

  • Visualization: Lee JH, Kim HW, Kim KH.

  • Writing - original draft: Lee JH, Kim HW, Kim KH.

  • Writing - review & editing: Lee JH, Kim HW, Kim KH.

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TOOLS
ORCID iDs

Ji Hyen Lee
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2234-1055

Han Wool Kim
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3463-3060

Kyung-Hyo Kim
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0333-6808

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