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e-Article

Oropouche virus as an Emerging Cause of Acute Febrile Illness in Colombia Oropouche fever in Colombia
Document Type
article
Source
Emerging Microbes and Infections, Pp 1-49 (2022)
Subject
Oropouche
bunyavirus
Acute Febrile Illness
fever
Colombia
RT-PCR
Infectious and parasitic diseases
RC109-216
Microbiology
QR1-502
Language
English
ISSN
22221751
2222-1751
Abstract
Arbovirus infections are frequent causes of acute febrile illness (AFI) in tropical countries. We conducted health facility based AFI surveillance at four sites in Colombia (Cucuta, Cali, Villavicencio, Leticia) during 2019-2022. Demographic, clinical and risk factor data were collected from persons with AFI that consented to participate in the study (n=2,967). Serologic specimens were obtained and tested for multiple pathogens by RT-PCR and rapid test (Antigen/IgM), with 20.7% identified as dengue positive from combined testing. Oropouche virus (OROV) was initially detected in serum by metagenomic next generation sequencing (mNGS) and virus target capture in a patient from Cúcuta. Three additional infections from Leticia were confirmed by conventional PCR, sequenced, and isolated in tissue culture. Phylogenetic analysis determined there have been at least two independent OROV introductions into Colombia. To assess OROV spread, a RT-qPCR dual-target assay was developed which identified 87/791 (10.9%) viremic cases in AFI specimens from Cali (3/53), Cucuta (3/19), Villavicencio (38/566), and Leticia (43/153). In parallel, an automated anti-nucleocapsid antibody assay detected IgM in 27/503 (5.4%) and IgG in 92/568 (16.2%) patients screened, for which 24/68 (35.3%) of PCR positives had antibodies. Dengue was found primarily in people aged