BACKGROUND Chikungunya is now of public health concern globally due to its re-emergence in endemic areas and introduction into new areas of the world. Worldwide, the vectors for transmission of the chikungunya virus are Aedes mosquitoes and these are prevalent in Ghana. Despite its global significance, the true burden of chikungunya virus infection in Ghana is largely unknown and the threat of outbreak remains high owing to international travel. This study sought to determine chikungunya virus infection among febrile patients suspected of having malaria infections at some selected health facilities in the Ashanti, Bono East, and Bono Regions of Ghana. METHODOLOGY This cross-sectional study recruited six hundred (600) febrile patients suspected of having malaria who submitted their clinical samples to the laboratories of the selected health facilities for the diagnosis of their infections. Five to ten millilitres (5-10ml) of venous blood were collected from each study participant. Sera were separated and tested for anti-chikungunya (IgM and IgG) antibodies using InBios ELISA kit following the manufacturer's instruction. Samples positive for chikungunya IgM and IgG were selected and tested for chikungunya virus RNA using Reverse Transcription-quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction. Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test kits were used to screen the participants for malaria. Structured questionnaires were administered to obtain demographic and clinical information of the study participants. RESULT Of the 600 samples tested, the overall seroprevalence of chikungunya was 6%. The seroprevalence of chikungunya IgM and IgG antibodies were 1.8% and 4.2% respectively. None of the chikungunya IgM and IgG positive samples tested positive for chikungunya RNA by RT-qPCR. Of the 600 samples, tested 32.3% (194/600) were positive for malaria parasites. Malaria and chikungunya co-infection was detected in 1.8% (11/600) of the participants. CONCLUSION Findings from the current study indicate low-level exposure to the chikungunya virus suggesting the virus is circulating and potentially causing morbidity in Ghana.

中文翻译：

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加纳阿散蒂和波诺地区三个二级卫生机构发热患者感染基孔肯雅热病毒的证据。

背景 由于基孔肯雅热在流行地区重新出现并引入世界新地区，它现在在全球引起公共卫生问题。在世界范围内，基孔肯雅热病毒的传播媒介是伊蚊，它们在加纳很普遍。尽管具有全球意义，但加纳基孔肯雅病毒感染的真正负担在很大程度上是未知的，而且由于国际旅行，爆发的威胁仍然很高。本研究旨在确定在加纳阿散蒂、东博诺和博诺地区的一些选定医疗机构中疑似感染疟疾的发热患者中的基孔肯雅病毒感染情况。方法学 本横断面研究招募了六百 (600) 名疑似患有疟疾的发热患者，他们将临床样本提交给选定的卫生机构的实验室以诊断其感染。从每个研究参与者身上收集了五到十毫升（5-10 毫升）的静脉血。按照制造商的说明，使用 InBios ELISA 试剂盒分离血清并测试抗基孔肯雅热（IgM 和 IgG）抗体。选择基孔肯雅热 IgM 和 IgG 呈阳性的样本，并使用逆转录-定量聚合酶链反应测试基孔肯雅热病毒 RNA。疟疾快速诊断试剂盒用于筛查参与者是否患有疟疾。管理结构化问卷以获得研究参与者的人口统计学和临床​​信息。结果 在测试的 600 个样本中，基孔肯雅热的总体血清阳性率为 6%。基孔肯雅热 IgM 和 IgG 抗体的血清阳性率分别为 1.8% 和 4.2%。基孔肯雅热 IgM 和 IgG 阳性样本均未通过 RT-qPCR 检测出基孔肯雅热 RNA 呈阳性。在 600 个样本中，32.3% (194/600) 的疟疾寄生虫检测呈阳性。在 1.8% (11/600) 的参与者中检测到疟疾和基孔肯雅热合并感染。结论 当前研究的结果表明，基孔肯雅热病毒的低水平暴露表明该病毒正在加纳传播并可能导致发病。基孔肯雅热 IgM 和 IgG 阳性样本均未通过 RT-qPCR 检测出基孔肯雅热 RNA 呈阳性。在 600 个样本中，32.3% (194/600) 的疟疾寄生虫检测呈阳性。在 1.8% (11/600) 的参与者中检测到疟疾和基孔肯雅热合并感染。结论 当前研究的结果表明，基孔肯雅热病毒的低水平暴露表明该病毒正在加纳传播并可能导致发病。基孔肯雅热 IgM 和 IgG 阳性样本均未通过 RT-qPCR 检测出基孔肯雅热 RNA 呈阳性。在 600 个样本中，32.3% (194/600) 的疟疾寄生虫检测呈阳性。在 1.8% (11/600) 的参与者中检测到疟疾和基孔肯雅热合并感染。结论 当前研究的结果表明，基孔肯雅热病毒的低水平暴露表明该病毒正在加纳传播并可能导致发病。