Serological evidence of West Nile Virus infection among humans in the southern Provinces of Morocco

Authors

  • Hicham El Rhaffouli University Mohammed V-Souissi, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital, Biosafety Level 3 and Research Laboratory, Rabat, Morocco
  • Idriss Lahlou-Amine University Mohammed V-Souissi, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital, Biosafety Level 3 and Research Laboratory, Rabat, Morocco
  • Chafiqua Loutfi Laboratoire Bio-Pharma, Rabat, Morocco
  • Abdellilah Laraqui University Mohammed V-Souissi, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital, Biosafety Level 3 and Research Laboratory, Rabat, Morocco
  • Tahar Bajjou University Mohammed V-Souissi, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital, Biosafety Level 3 and Research Laboratory, Rabat, Morocco
  • Ouafaa Fassi-Fihri Hassan 2 Agronomic and Veterinary Institute, Rabat, Morocco
  • Mehdi El Harrak Laboratoire Bio-Pharma, Rabat, Morocco

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.3399

Keywords:

West Nile Virus, serology, virus-neutralization test, WNV strain 96–111, Morocco

Abstract

Introduction: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of West Nile Virus infection in the southern provinces of Morocco.

Methodology: A total of 250 sera, collected during 2012 in the province of Dakhla, were analyzed by microneutralisation assay.

Results: WNV-neutralizing antibodies were detected in 13 samples (5.2%). The participants with WNV-specific antibodies were significantly younger than the rest of the population (p = 0.009). The positivity rate was higher among women (6.3%) than men (3.6%) (p = 0.26).

Conclusions: This is the first serological evidence of WNV infection among humans in the southern provinces of Morocco.

Author Biographies

Hicham El Rhaffouli, University Mohammed V-Souissi, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital, Biosafety Level 3 and Research Laboratory, Rabat, Morocco

Laboratoire de Recherche et de Biosécurité P3, Hôpital Militaire D'Instruction Mohamed V

Idriss Lahlou-Amine, University Mohammed V-Souissi, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital, Biosafety Level 3 and Research Laboratory, Rabat, Morocco

Laboratoire de Recherche et de Biosécurité P3, Hôpital Militaire D'Instruction Mohamed V

Abdellilah Laraqui, University Mohammed V-Souissi, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital, Biosafety Level 3 and Research Laboratory, Rabat, Morocco

Laboratoire de Recherche et de Biosécurité P3, Hôpital Militaire D'Instruction Mohamed V

Tahar Bajjou, University Mohammed V-Souissi, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital, Biosafety Level 3 and Research Laboratory, Rabat, Morocco

Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital, Biosafety Level 3 and Research Laboratory, Rabat, Morocco

Ouafaa Fassi-Fihri, Hassan 2 Agronomic and Veterinary Institute, Rabat, Morocco

Microbiology department

Mehdi El Harrak, Laboratoire Bio-Pharma, Rabat, Morocco

Laboratoire Bio-Pharma

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Published

2013-12-15

How to Cite

1.
El Rhaffouli H, Lahlou-Amine I, Loutfi C, Laraqui A, Bajjou T, Fassi-Fihri O, El Harrak M (2013) Serological evidence of West Nile Virus infection among humans in the southern Provinces of Morocco. J Infect Dev Ctries 7:999–1002. doi: 10.3855/jidc.3399

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 12: December 2013

Section

Brief Original Articles

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