ABSTRACT
The high prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections has become a devastating public health problem in Indonesia. In response, the government has taken measures to reduce the transmission of HIV and the number of deaths from HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). However, these efforts have not successfully reduced the spread of HIV in Surabaya. In this study, we analyzed the factors that could influence the spread of HIV in Surabaya using a Geographic Information System. We conducted a spatial analysis of HIV/AIDS clusters in Surabaya from 2016 to 2020. Spatial autocorrelation and spatiotemporal analysis were used to identify local HIV clustering. In addition, the Global Moran's I index was applied to detect HIV clustering at the sub-district level. The results showed that HIV mostly occurred among males (683/969; 70.3%) in the economic age group (20-35 years) and that the infection was transmitted mostly through sexual intercourse (942/969; 97.2%). The hotspots were located in Central and Southern Surabaya, including the Genteng, Tegal Sari, Gubeng, and Sawahan sub-sub-districts. Western Surabaya (Benowo and Pakal) was the only hot spot in 2018. In conclusion, the spatial and temporal analysis of HIV, coupled with an assessment of the factors that drive the epidemic, can assist the government to formulate policies and design targeted interventions to prevent and control the epidemic in Surabaya, Indonesia.
ABSTRACT
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that has a significant rapid transmission is an international public health concern. Several dengue-endemic countries reported similar clinical and laboratory features between COVID-19 and dengue in the early incubation period, and thus discerning the infection is difficult. As a dengue-endemic country, Indonesia also poses the same challenge during the COVID-19 outbreak. This current study analyzed the IgG and IgM profiles from COVID-19 patients by using a serological SARS-CoV-2 and dengue rapid test. In addition, 38 sera from healthy individuals (pre-COVID-19 date) were analyzed using a dengue rapid test. Among 120 samples, 4 samples indicated dengue IgG positive. However, IgM, NS1, and RT-PCR analyses showed negative results. Interestingly, regarding seropositivity of NS1 and DENV IgG from healthy individuals (pre COVID-19 infection), two samples were positive DENV IgG, while one of them was positive NS1. This suggested that in the dengue-endemic area, many people have already experienced dengue and have immunity against dengue virus. There is also the possibility of antibody cross-reactivity between COVID-19 and dengue infection. This also emphasizes the high demand for a rapid method with high sensitivity and specificity that can distinguish between SARS-CoV-2 and dengue.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Dengue is a kind of infectious disease that was distributed in the tropical and sub-tropical areas. To date, there is no clinically approved dengue vaccine or antiviral for humans, even though there have been great efforts towards this end. Therefore, finding the effective compound against dengue virus (DENV) replication is very important. Among the complex compounds, copper(II)-imidazole derivatives are of interest because of their biological and medicinal benefits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, antiviral activity of [Cu(2,4,5-triphenylimidazole)2]n, was evaluated against different stages of dengue virus type 2 (DENV-2) replication in Vero cell using focus forming unit reduction assay and quantitative ELISA. RESULTS: [Cu(2,4,5-triphenylimidazole)2]n inhibited DENV-2 replication in Vero cells with IC50 = 2.3 µg/ml and SI= 19.42 when cells were treated 2 days after virus infection, whereas its CC50 for cytotoxicity to Vero cells was 44.174 µg/ml. CONCLUSION: The compound has high anti-DENV2 activity, less toxicity, and a high possibility to be considered a drug candidate.
ABSTRACT
Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are the primary and secondary vectors, respectively, of dengue, the most important arboviral disease in the world. The aim of this study was to detect and serotype dengue viruses (DENV) in the vectors Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus in Surabaya, Indonesia. Between 2008 and 2015, 16,605 Aedes mosquitoes were collected in 15 sub-districts of Surabaya. Ae. aegypti was dominant (90.9%), whereas few Ae. albopictus were collected (9.1%). A total of 330 pools of adult Aedes mosquitoes were subjected to the serotyping of DENV by RT-PCR. DENV-1 (52.3%) was the most frequently detected serotype, followed by DENV-2 (40.3%), DENV-4 (4.6%), and DENV-3 (2.8%). The average minimum infection rate for Ae. aegypti in various sub-districts of Surabaya was 7.2 per 1,000 mosquitoes, while that for Ae. albopictus was 0.7 per 1,000 mosquitoes. The results showed that the predominantly circulating DENV serotype in mosquitoes continuously shifted from DENV-2 (2008) to DENV-1 (2009-2012), to DENV-2 again (2013-2014), and then back to DENV-1 (2015). The circulating DENV serotypes in mosquitoes were generally consistent with those in humans. Therefore, the surveillance of infected mosquitoes with DENV might provide an early warning sign for the risk of future dengue outbreaks.
