Revealing viral hepatitis epidemiology in the Democratic Republic of Congo: insights from yellow fever surveillance reanalysis
Abstract Background Yellow fever surveillance systems are designed to identify cases of acute febrile jaundice, a clinical syndrome used to monitor the emergence of yellow fever outbreaks. However, this syndrome has diverse etiologies, particularly viral hepatitis. This study investigates the seroep...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | Tropical Medicine and Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-025-00687-8 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1823861530362380288 |
|---|---|
| author | Patrick Mukadi-Kakoni Yannick Munyeku-Bazitama Gracia Kashitu-Mujinga Marguerite Manwana-Pemba Niclette Zenga-Bibi Patient Okitale-Talunda Christelle Mbelu-Kabongo Fleurette Domai-Mbuyakala Elisabeth Pukuta-Simbu Pierre Mutantu-Nsele Yoshinao Kubo Sheila Makiala-Mandanda Steve Ahuka-Mundeke Koya Ariyoshi Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum |
| author_facet | Patrick Mukadi-Kakoni Yannick Munyeku-Bazitama Gracia Kashitu-Mujinga Marguerite Manwana-Pemba Niclette Zenga-Bibi Patient Okitale-Talunda Christelle Mbelu-Kabongo Fleurette Domai-Mbuyakala Elisabeth Pukuta-Simbu Pierre Mutantu-Nsele Yoshinao Kubo Sheila Makiala-Mandanda Steve Ahuka-Mundeke Koya Ariyoshi Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum |
| author_sort | Patrick Mukadi-Kakoni |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Yellow fever surveillance systems are designed to identify cases of acute febrile jaundice, a clinical syndrome used to monitor the emergence of yellow fever outbreaks. However, this syndrome has diverse etiologies, particularly viral hepatitis. This study investigates the seroepidemiology of viral hepatitis A (HAV), B (HBV), C (HCV), and E (HEV) among cases initially suspected to be yellow fever, aiming to elucidate the epidemiology of viral hepatitis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and provide insights for improving public health interventions. Methods A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using serum samples collected between 2017 and 2018 through national yellow fever surveillance in the DRC. Samples from individuals testing negative for yellow fever were tested for IgM antibodies against HAV, HBc, HCV, and HEV and HBs antigen using validated ELISA kits. Acute HBV infection was defined by both HBc IgM and HBs antigen positivity. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association of demographic, geographic, and environmental factors with each hepatitis type. Results Among 1239 participants (58.8% male; median age: 16 years), seroprevalence was 16.1, 11.2, 5.0, and 3.1% for HAV, HBV, HCV and HEV, respectively. HAV prevalence was highest in the youngest age group and rural residents. In contrast, the youngest group was most protected from HBV. HCV prevalence was highest in the oldest age groups. HEV exhibited higher prevalence during the dry season and in a humid subtropical climate. Several provinces were identified as hotspots of HAV, HCV and HEV. Conclusions Viral hepatitis is a major cause of acute febrile jaundice in the DRC with notable geographic and seasonal trends. National yellow fever surveillance is a valuable resource for understanding hepatitis epidemiology, though careful interpretation is necessary. Tailored interventions are required for mitigating the burden of viral hepatitis in each province. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1ed991cd6e6841d6a8fbdbb594322d0c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1349-4147 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Tropical Medicine and Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-1ed991cd6e6841d6a8fbdbb594322d0c2025-02-09T12:54:53ZengBMCTropical Medicine and Health1349-41472025-02-0153111010.1186/s41182-025-00687-8Revealing viral hepatitis epidemiology in the Democratic Republic of Congo: insights from yellow fever surveillance reanalysisPatrick Mukadi-Kakoni0Yannick Munyeku-Bazitama1Gracia Kashitu-Mujinga2Marguerite Manwana-Pemba3Niclette Zenga-Bibi4Patient Okitale-Talunda5Christelle Mbelu-Kabongo6Fleurette Domai-Mbuyakala7Elisabeth Pukuta-Simbu8Pierre Mutantu-Nsele9Yoshinao Kubo10Sheila Makiala-Mandanda11Steve Ahuka-Mundeke12Koya Ariyoshi13Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum14Department of Clinical Medicine, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki UniversityInstitut National de Recherche BiomédicaleInstitut National de Recherche BiomédicaleInstitut National de Recherche BiomédicaleInstitut National de Recherche BiomédicaleInstitut National de Recherche BiomédicaleInstitut National de Recherche BiomédicaleDepartment of Clinical Medicine, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki UniversityInstitut National de Recherche BiomédicaleInstitut National de Recherche BiomédicaleDepartment of Clinical Medicine, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki UniversityInstitut National de Recherche BiomédicaleInstitut National de Recherche BiomédicaleDepartment of Clinical Medicine, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki UniversityInstitut National de Recherche BiomédicaleAbstract Background Yellow fever surveillance systems are designed to identify cases of acute febrile jaundice, a clinical syndrome used to monitor the emergence of yellow fever outbreaks. However, this syndrome has diverse etiologies, particularly viral hepatitis. This study investigates the seroepidemiology of viral hepatitis A (HAV), B (HBV), C (HCV), and E (HEV) among cases initially suspected to be yellow fever, aiming to elucidate the epidemiology of viral hepatitis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and provide insights for improving public health interventions. Methods A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using serum samples collected between 2017 and 2018 through national yellow fever surveillance in the DRC. Samples from individuals testing negative for yellow fever were tested for IgM antibodies against HAV, HBc, HCV, and HEV and HBs antigen using validated ELISA kits. Acute HBV infection was defined by both HBc IgM and HBs antigen positivity. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association of demographic, geographic, and environmental factors with each hepatitis type. Results Among 1239 participants (58.8% male; median age: 16 years), seroprevalence was 16.1, 11.2, 5.0, and 3.1% for HAV, HBV, HCV and HEV, respectively. HAV prevalence was highest in the youngest age group and rural residents. In contrast, the youngest group was most protected from HBV. HCV prevalence was highest in the oldest age groups. HEV exhibited higher prevalence during the dry season and in a humid subtropical climate. Several provinces were identified as hotspots of HAV, HCV and HEV. Conclusions Viral hepatitis is a major cause of acute febrile jaundice in the DRC with notable geographic and seasonal trends. National yellow fever surveillance is a valuable resource for understanding hepatitis epidemiology, though careful interpretation is necessary. Tailored interventions are required for mitigating the burden of viral hepatitis in each province.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-025-00687-8HepatitisYellow fever surveillanceSeroepidemiologyAcute febrile jaundiceDemocratic Republic of CongoPublic health |
| spellingShingle | Patrick Mukadi-Kakoni Yannick Munyeku-Bazitama Gracia Kashitu-Mujinga Marguerite Manwana-Pemba Niclette Zenga-Bibi Patient Okitale-Talunda Christelle Mbelu-Kabongo Fleurette Domai-Mbuyakala Elisabeth Pukuta-Simbu Pierre Mutantu-Nsele Yoshinao Kubo Sheila Makiala-Mandanda Steve Ahuka-Mundeke Koya Ariyoshi Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum Revealing viral hepatitis epidemiology in the Democratic Republic of Congo: insights from yellow fever surveillance reanalysis Tropical Medicine and Health Hepatitis Yellow fever surveillance Seroepidemiology Acute febrile jaundice Democratic Republic of Congo Public health |
| title | Revealing viral hepatitis epidemiology in the Democratic Republic of Congo: insights from yellow fever surveillance reanalysis |
| title_full | Revealing viral hepatitis epidemiology in the Democratic Republic of Congo: insights from yellow fever surveillance reanalysis |
| title_fullStr | Revealing viral hepatitis epidemiology in the Democratic Republic of Congo: insights from yellow fever surveillance reanalysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Revealing viral hepatitis epidemiology in the Democratic Republic of Congo: insights from yellow fever surveillance reanalysis |
| title_short | Revealing viral hepatitis epidemiology in the Democratic Republic of Congo: insights from yellow fever surveillance reanalysis |
| title_sort | revealing viral hepatitis epidemiology in the democratic republic of congo insights from yellow fever surveillance reanalysis |
| topic | Hepatitis Yellow fever surveillance Seroepidemiology Acute febrile jaundice Democratic Republic of Congo Public health |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-025-00687-8 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT patrickmukadikakoni revealingviralhepatitisepidemiologyinthedemocraticrepublicofcongoinsightsfromyellowfeversurveillancereanalysis AT yannickmunyekubazitama revealingviralhepatitisepidemiologyinthedemocraticrepublicofcongoinsightsfromyellowfeversurveillancereanalysis AT graciakashitumujinga revealingviralhepatitisepidemiologyinthedemocraticrepublicofcongoinsightsfromyellowfeversurveillancereanalysis AT margueritemanwanapemba revealingviralhepatitisepidemiologyinthedemocraticrepublicofcongoinsightsfromyellowfeversurveillancereanalysis AT niclettezengabibi revealingviralhepatitisepidemiologyinthedemocraticrepublicofcongoinsightsfromyellowfeversurveillancereanalysis AT patientokitaletalunda revealingviralhepatitisepidemiologyinthedemocraticrepublicofcongoinsightsfromyellowfeversurveillancereanalysis AT christellembelukabongo revealingviralhepatitisepidemiologyinthedemocraticrepublicofcongoinsightsfromyellowfeversurveillancereanalysis AT fleurettedomaimbuyakala revealingviralhepatitisepidemiologyinthedemocraticrepublicofcongoinsightsfromyellowfeversurveillancereanalysis AT elisabethpukutasimbu revealingviralhepatitisepidemiologyinthedemocraticrepublicofcongoinsightsfromyellowfeversurveillancereanalysis AT pierremutantunsele revealingviralhepatitisepidemiologyinthedemocraticrepublicofcongoinsightsfromyellowfeversurveillancereanalysis AT yoshinaokubo revealingviralhepatitisepidemiologyinthedemocraticrepublicofcongoinsightsfromyellowfeversurveillancereanalysis AT sheilamakialamandanda revealingviralhepatitisepidemiologyinthedemocraticrepublicofcongoinsightsfromyellowfeversurveillancereanalysis AT steveahukamundeke revealingviralhepatitisepidemiologyinthedemocraticrepublicofcongoinsightsfromyellowfeversurveillancereanalysis AT koyaariyoshi revealingviralhepatitisepidemiologyinthedemocraticrepublicofcongoinsightsfromyellowfeversurveillancereanalysis AT jeanjacquesmuyembetamfum revealingviralhepatitisepidemiologyinthedemocraticrepublicofcongoinsightsfromyellowfeversurveillancereanalysis |