Anti Japanese encephalitis virus IgM positivity among patients with acute encephalitic syndrome admitted to different hospitals from all over Nepal.

The Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) infection is one of the major public health problems in Nepal because of its increasing disease morbidity and mortality. The main purpose of this study was to determine the anti-JEV IgM positivity among acute encephalitis syndromic cases from all over Nepal. The present study was conducted at National Public Health Laboratory, Kathmandu, Nepal from April 2015 to October 2015. A total of 671 (418 CSF and 253 serum) samples were collected from 625 patients with acute encephalitic syndrome, admitted to different hospitals from all over Nepal. IgM antibody capture enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used for the detection of anti-JEV IgM positive cases. The rate of anti-JEV IgM positivity was found to be 21.12%. The majority of positive cases (50%) were from the age group below 15 years, with the highest numbers of cases occurring in September (55.30%). Among all the anti-JEV IgM positive cases, higher numbers of cases were males. Geographically, the highest numbers of anti-JEV IgM positive cases were recorded from Terai region. Similarly, largest numbers of anti-JEV IgM positive cases were reported from Kailai district followed by those from Kanchanpur. However, anti-JEV IgM positive cases were also reported from hill districts. Continuation of active surveillance and vector control measures, proper management of diagnostic facilities and expanded program of immunization in JE endemic areas should be strongly emphasized to reduce the endemicity of the disease.

Introduction

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a mosquito borne disease caused by a single stranded, positive-sense RNA virus belonging to the family Flaviviridae and genus Flavivirus [1]. Globally, it is one of the most common viral encephalitis, mainly prevalent in eastern and southern regions of Asia covering an area with a population of more than three billion [1]. Most of the cases of JE do not show symptoms but symptomatic cases may have high morbidity and mortality [2]. The symptomatic cases may have mortality rate up to 30% and around 50% of survivors may have persistent neuropsychiatric sequelae [2]. Worldwide, there are an estimated 30,000–50,000 JE cases with 15,000 deaths annually [3]. The virus cycle exists between mosquitoes (mainly the species Culex tritaeniorrhynchus) and vertebrates, while swine and water birds act as amplifying hosts [3]. Human get infected when bitten by an infected mosquito and are a dead end host as there is no human to human transmission [3].

Incubation period of JE is 2–14 days [4]. The common early symptoms associated are lethargy, fever, headache, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting followed by a combination of nuchal rigidity, photophobia, altered consciousness, hyperexcitability, masked facies, muscle rigidity, cranial nerve palsies, tremulous eye movements, tremors and involuntary movement of the extremities, paresis, incoordination, and pathological reflexes [4].

The Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) infection is one of the major public health problems in Nepal because of its increasing disease morbidity and mortality [5]. JE in Nepal was first reported in 1978 [5]. Since then more than 30,000 cases have been reported in Nepal, mainly occurring from June to November [5]. In Nepal, JE is seasonally endemic mainly in Terai region bordering India, however a few cases have also been reported from hilly regions including Kathmandu valley [5]. So far, JE cases have been reported from 54 out of total 75 districts of Nepal [6]. In this study, we determined the anti-JEV IgM positivity of Japanese encephalitis among patients with acute encephalitis syndrome from all over Nepal.

Methods

Ethics statement

The research was approved by ethical committee of Nepal Public Health Laboratory, Kathmandu, Nepal. The committee waived the need for a written informed consent as no additional tests were performed apart from the analysis of the samples needed for the routine clinical evaluation of the patients with acute encephalitis syndrome.

Study design

A cross sectional study was conducted from April 2015 to October 2015 by using a total of 671 (418 CSF and 253 serum) samples from 625 patients with acute encephalitis syndrome admitted to different hospitals from all over Nepal. The samples from all the patients suspected of suffering from acute encephalitis syndrome were used in our study. Serum samples were received from 227 patients, while CSF samples were received from 398 patients. Either serum sample or CSF sample was received. Both serum and CSF samples were not received from any patients. The samples were received from both private and government hospitals including tertiary care hospitals. According to World Health Organization, the patients with symptoms like acute onset of fever and change in mental status/new onset of seizures were considered to be suffering from acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) [7].

Detection of anti-JE IgM

Anti-JE IgM was detected in serum or CSF by IgM antibody capture ELISA at Nepal Public Health Laboratory, Kathmandu, Nepal. The samples were transported by maintaining cold chain. Test kits for the diagnosis of JE were obtained from Indian National Institute of Virology (Pune, India). In CSF, the sensitivity and specificity of the kits have been reported to be 75% and 96% respectively, while those in serum have been reported to be 71% and 77% respectively [8].

Data analysis

Data analysis was performed by using statistical package for social sciences version 16.0. Chi-square test was applied and p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Of total 625 (368 males and 257 females) patients, 132 (21.12%) were found to be positive for anti-JEV IgM. 86 (37.89%) of total 227 patients (from whom serum samples were received) were found to have anti-JEV IgM in their serum, while 46 (11.56%) of total 398 patients (from whom CSF samples were received) were found to have anti-JEV IgM in their CSF. Around 19.84% of males and 22.95% of females were found to be positive for anti-JE IgM (p>0.05).

Age wise distribution of JE cases in Nepal

Highest numbers of patients with acute encephalitis syndrome were in the age group 0–15 years followed by those in the age group 16–30 years. Similarly, highest numbers of JE confirmed patients were in the age group 0–15 years followed by those in the age group 16–30 years (Table 1).

Table 1

Age wise distribution of JE cases in Nepal.

Age	No. of
groups (in	tested AES	Positive (%)	p-value
years)	cases
0–15	307	66 (21.50)
16–30	124	27 (21.77)
31–45	76	17 (22.37)
			p<0.05
46–60	58	10 (17.24%)
61–75	37	11 (29.73)
Above 75	23	1 (4.35)
Total	625	132

Month-wise distribution of JE cases in Nepal

Highest numbers of patients with acute encephalitis syndrome were in September. Similarly, the numbers of JE positive cases were at peak in September (Table 2).

Table 2

Month-wise distribution of JE cases in Nepal.

		No.	of
Months	Positive (%)	tested		p-value
		AES cases
April	3 (8.33)	36
May	2 (28.57)	7
June	17 (11.04)	154
				p<0.05
July	5 (15.15)	33
August	27 (17.53)	154
September	73 (36.32)	201
October	5 (12.50)	40
Total	132	625

Geographical distribution of JE cases in Nepal

Majority of the acute encephalitis syndrome cases and JE positive cases were observed in Terai (Table 3)

Table 3

Geographical distribution of JE cases in Nepal.

Geographical regions	Positive (%)	Total tested	p-value
		AES cases
Terai	91 (30.03)	303
Hill	21 (11.11)	189
			p<0.05
Mountain	1 (6.67)	15
Unknown*	19 (16.10)	118
Total	132	625

*The samples with missing information

Regional distribution of JE cases in Nepal

Majority of the acute encephalitis syndrome cases and positive cases were reported from central development region (Table 4).

Table 4

Regional distribution of JE cases in Nepal.

Regions	Positive (%)	Total tested	p-value
		AES cases
CDR	43 (19.28)		223
WDR	13 (10.40)	125
FWDR	35 (44.87)	78
			p<0.05
MWDR	17 (31.48)	54
EDR	5 (18.52)	27
Unknown*	19 (16.10)	118
Total	132	625

*The samples with missing information.

Note: CDR = central development region, WDR = western development region, FWDR = far western development region, MWDR = mid western development region, EDR = eastern development region.

Zone wise and district wise distribution of JE cases in Nepal

Highest numbers of the acute encephalitis syndrome cases and JE cases were reported from Seti zone (24) followed by those from Janakpur (21). Similarly, highest numbers of the acute encephalitis syndrome cases and JE cases were reported from Kailali (23) district followed by those from Kanchanpur (11) and Kathmandu (8) (Fig 1). The detailed data are presented in S1 and S2 Tables.

Fig 1

Map of Nepal.

Discussion

JE is a significant public health problem because of its high mortality rate and the high level of residual neuropsychiatric sequalae in survivors [9]. In our study, the anti-JEV IgM positivity rate was 21.12%, which was in accordance with the rates reported by Bista and Shrestha [10] and Pandey et al. [11]. In Nepal, the incidence of JE among the patients with AES has been found to be ranging from 20% to 62% [5]. However, very low (8.4%) positivity rate was reported by Ram et al. in Chitwan and the increasing vaccination coverage has been described as the reason for the decreasing rate of JE in Central Terai [5].

Other microorganisms and non-infectious agents may also be the reasons for the acute encephalitis syndrome [5]. So, AES can not be used as the surrogate marker for JE [5] and further tests are needed for the identification of the causative agents in case of JE negative AES cases.

In our study, we used serum or CSF for detection of anti-JEV IgM but the serum specimens are good enough to diagnose JE for surveillance purposes [12].

Among the total JE positive cases, 73 (55.30%) were males whereas 59 (44.70%) were females. Similarly, in a study by Brahma et al. about 60% of the total positive cases were males [13]. The reasons for JE being more common in males in comparison to females may be the greater exposure of males during mosquito feeding hours [14] and high mobility of males across the border during the outbreak season. We found the highest numbers (50%) of the JE cases to be belonging to age group 0–15 years. In Nepal, Japanese encephalitis has been reported in all age groups with almost 50% of cases occurring in children with age 15 years or less [14]. The children below 15 years are among active population mostly roaming outside home around water lodged areas and rice fields. Further, low immunity may be the reason for high prevalence of JE among the children.

The numbers of JE positive cases were highest in September followed by those in August and June (p<0.05). JE in Nepal is seasonally endemic usually occurring from June to November [5]. During the monsoon and post monsoon periods there is development of favorable environment for mosquito breeding, giving the JE vectors the appropriate places to multiply.

Majority of the JE positive cases were reported from Terai region. The people in this region are involved in the activities (like farming, fishery, cattle raising and jungle roaming for woods) those put them at higher risk of mosquito bites. Additionally, the open border system with India (mainly with JE endemic regions) can also contribute to high numbers of JE cases in Terai.

We also reported the JE positive cases from hill and mountain regions. A positive case identified in hill or mountain region could be either imported from Terai region or originated there. Positive cases from hilly districts have shown the existence of JE beyond the Terai belt of Nepal and this can not be ignored and entomological surveys should be conducted to prove it.

The majority of JE cases were from central development region. Similarly, highest numbers of JE cases were identified from Seti zone followed by those from Janakpur, as the districts with high prevalence of JE belong to them.

AES cases were reported from 62 districts of Nepal but JE positive cases were confirmed from only 31 districts. But, JE cases have been reported from 54 districts of Nepal [6]. The highest numbers of JE positive cases were confirmed from Kailali district followed by those from Kanchanpur, Kathmandu, Dhanusha, Bara, Dang, Rupandehi and Sarlahi. Altogether, these 8 districts of Nepal accounted for more than 50% of the total JE positive cases and all these districts (except Kathmandu) are among the 24 endemic districts identified by Epidemiology and Disease Control Division [15].

Vaccination against JE can help to reduce the incidence of JE significantly. So, in Nepal, the vaccination campaign was started in 2006 [16]. As of 2010, the immunization for JE was introduced in 23 high risk districts as routine immunization targeting children from 1 to 2 years of age and the coverage was found to be ranging from 8–73% [16].

Limitations of the study

The main limitation of the study was inability to identify the causative agents of JE negative AES cases. Further, we could not include the clinical features, outcome and the detailed epidemiology of JE and AES cases in our study.

Conclusions

JE is still present as a serious problem in Nepal. It is more prevalent in Terai and routine immunization is recommended to control the prevalence of JE. Further, the vector control programs and awareness programs on JE may help to decrease its prevalence. Finally, active surveillance and proper management of diagnostic facilities are also necessary to reduce the endemicity of the disease.

Zone wise distribution of JE cases in Nepal.

(PDF)

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District wise distribution of JE cases in Nepal.

(PDF)

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