A Retrospective Study of Seroprevalence of Chikungunya in Patients Attending Microbiology Department of MGM Medical College, Jamshedpur: A Tertiary care Hospital of Kolhan Region of Jharkhand

ABSTRACT

Background: Chikungunya virus, an alphavirus belonging tothe Togaviridae family, caused large scale outbreaks in severalparts of southern, western and eastern India in 2006. Wereport Chikungunya outbreak in Jamshedpur region in 2011.Objective: To know the seroprevalence and seasonal trendsof Chikungunya infection among the patients of the diseasewho attended to MGM Medical College, Jamshedpur, A tertiarycare hospital during 2011 to 2014.Materials & Methods: Present retrospective observationalstudies were conducted in the Microbiology Department ofMahatma Gandhi Medical College, Jamshedpur from August2011 to December 2014.Result: Serum samples of 323 patients presenting with fever,arthralgia, rash etc. were tested for anti-Chikungunya IgMantibody using MAC ELISA. 148/324 (47.9%) samples werepositive for anti Chikungunya IgM antibody. More males wereaffected compared to females. The most common age groupaffected was 29-49 year. Characteristically, pediatrics agegroup was least affected. The number of cases increased withincreasing age group.Conclusion: Screening for Chikungunya infection in theendemic areas, especially in monsoon season would improvethe quality of arboviral surveillance and potentially aid in clinicalmanagement of the disease.