@article{fdi:010049676,
  title = {{R}ift {V}alley fever virus seroprevalence in human rural populations of {G}abon},
  author = {{P}ourrut, {X}avier and {N}koghe, {D}. and {S}ouris, {M}arc and {P}aupy, {C}hristophe and {P}aweska, {J}. and {P}adilla, {C}. and {M}oussavou, {G}. and {L}eroy, {E}ric},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{B}ackground: {R}ift {V}alley fever ({RVF}) is a mosquito-borne viral zoonosis caused by a phlebovirus and transmitted by {A}edes mosquitoes. {H}umans can also be infected through direct contact with blood (aerosols) or tissues (placenta, stillborn) of infected animals. {A}lthough severe clinical cases can be observed, infection with {RVF} virus ({RVFV}) in humans is, in most cases, asymptomatic or causes a febrile illness without serious symptoms. {I}n small ruminants {RVFV} mainly causes abortion and neonatal death. {T}he distribution of {RVFV} has been well documented in many {A}frican countries, particularly in the north ({E}gypt, {S}udan), east ({K}enya, {T}anzania, {S}omalia), west ({S}enegal, {M}auritania) and south ({S}outh {A}frica), but also in the {I}ndian {O}cean ({M}adagascar, {M}ayotte) and the {A}rabian {P}eninsula. {I}n contrast, the prevalence of {RVFV} has rarely been investigated in central {A}frican countries. {M}ethodology/{P}rincipal {F}indings: {W}e therefore conducted a large serological survey of rural populations in {G}abon, involving 4,323 individuals from 212 randomly selected villages (10.3% of all {G}abonese villages). {RVFV}-specific {I}g{G} was found in a total of 145 individuals (3.3%) suggesting the wide circulation of {R}ift {V}alley fever virus in {G}abon. {T}he seroprevalence was significantly higher in the lakes region than in forest and savannas zones, with respective rates of 8.3%, 2.9% and 2.2%. {I}n the lakes region, {RVFV}-specific {I}g{G} was significantly more prevalent in males than in females (respectively 12.8% and 3.8%) and the seroprevalence increased gradually with age in males but not in females. {C}onclusions/{S}ignificance: {A}lthough {RVFV} was suggested to circulate at a relatively high level in {G}abon, no outbreaks or even isolated cases have been documented in the country. {T}he higher prevalence in the lakes region is likely to be driven by specific ecologic conditions favorable to certain mosquito vector species. {M}ales may be more at risk of infection than females because they spend more time farming and hunting outside the villages, where they may be more exposed to mosquito bites and infected animals. {F}urther investigations are needed to determine the putative sylvan cycle of {RVFV}, including the mosquito species and the reservoir role of wild animals in the viral maintenance cycle.},
  keywords = {},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{P}los {N}eglected {T}ropical {D}iseases},
  volume = {4},
  numero = {7},
  pages = {e763},
  ISSN = {1935-2727},
  year = {2010},
  DOI = {10.1371/journal.pntd.0000763},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010049676},
}