Detection of Zika Virus Antibodies in Retrospective Serum Samples from Suspected Dengue Cases in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo

Nur Alfreena, Alfie and Magdline Sia, Henry Sum (2024) Detection of Zika Virus Antibodies in Retrospective Serum Samples from Suspected Dengue Cases in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 20 (1). pp. 374-377. ISSN 2636-9346

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Abstract

Sarawak, a state in Malaysian Borneo, has never reported a case of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection nor conducted any seroprevalence studies on the virus. This study aimed to provide a serological insight into ZIKV in Sarawak. 212 sera samples collected from a dengue surveillance study conducted from 2007 to 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. Samples negative for both dengue and Japanese encephalitis virus by RT-PCR were screened by immunoblots assay for ZIKV prM protein. Positive samples were further subjected to 50% plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT50) for confirmation. 20 (9.4%) sera samples were positive for ZIKV prM protein but not against prM of dengue and Japanese encephalitis virus. These 20 samples were further subjected to PRNT50, and six samples (2.8%) showed possible seropositivity for ZIKV. This preliminary investigation provides serological evidence of ZIKV infection in Sarawak and highlights the importance of conducting surveillance programs for ZIKV in this dengue-endemic state.

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