Asymptomatic Dengue Virus Infections, Cambodia, 2012–2013

• Main Authors: Sowath Ly, Camille Fortas, Veasna Duong, Tarik Benmarhnia, Anavaj Sakuntabhai, Richard Paul, Rekol Huy, Sopheak Sorn, Kunthy Nguon, Siam Chan, Souv Kimsan, Sivuth Ong, Kim Srorn Kim, Sowathy Buoy, Lim Voeung, Philippe Dussart, Philippe Buchy, Arnaud Tarantola
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2019-07-01
• Series: Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Subjects: dengue; incidence; asymptomatic; risk factors; epidemiology; Asia
• Online Access: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/25/7/18-1794_article

We investigated dengue virus (DENV) and asymptomatic DENV infections in rural villages of Kampong Cham Province, Cambodia, during 2012 and 2013. We conducted perifocal investigations in and around households for 149 DENV index cases identified through hospital and village surveillance. We tested participants 0.5–30 years of age by using nonstructural 1 rapid tests and confirmed DENV infections using quantitative reverse transcription PCR or nonstructural 1–capture ELISA. We used multivariable Poisson regressions to explore links between participants’ DENV infection status and household characteristics. Of 7,960 study participants, 346 (4.4%) were infected with DENV, among whom 302 (87.3%) were <15 years of age and 225 (65.0%) were <9 years of age. We identified 26 (7.5%) participants with strictly asymptomatic DENV infection at diagnosis and during follow-up. We linked symptomatic DENV infection status to familial relationships with index cases. During the 2-year study, we saw fewer asymptomatic DENV infections than expected based on the literature.