A Retrospectives Study of Seroprevalence of Japanese Encephalitis in Patients Attending Microbiology Department of MGM Medical College, Jamshedpur

ABSTRACT

Background: Japanese Encephalitis is one of the mostimportant causes of viral encephalitis worldwide, with anestimated 50,000 cases and 15,000 deaths annually. Thepresent study was undertaken to investigate theSeroprevalence and Seasonal Trend of Japanese Encephalitisin Jamshedpur.Methods: It was a hospital-based retrospective studyconducted from August 2011 to December 2017. A total of 571consecutive non-repetitive patients, satisfying the clinical casedefinition of JE as per the WHO guidelines, were included inthe study. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum samples weretested for JEV-specific IgM antibodies by the NIV JE IgMCapture ELISA Kit.Results: Out of which 166/571 (29.07%) were JE positivediagnosed by IgM Mac ELISA antibody kit. We have observedthat in a period of six years, the JE positivity rate hassignificantly reduced from 39.84% in 2011 to 7.29% in 2017.Conclusions: A declining trend of JE was seen in this study,however further research work needs to be done to lookfor non-JE causes of JE. Surveillance & effective vaccinationshould be carried out regularly for early detection of animpending outbreak and to initiate timely preventive and controlmeasures.