Arthropod-borne viral diseases are endemic throughout the tropical and subtropical regions, where vectors like mosquitoes (Aedes, Culex, and Anopheles), ticks, biting midges, and sandflies are ubiquitously found. These diseases pose significant international health concerns, especially as their circulation has notably increased due to travel and globalization. Over the past two decades, The Monitoring and Surveillance Center for Zoonotic Diseases in Wildlife and Exotic Animals (MoZWE) has conducted epidemiological surveillance of arboviral infections in various animals, employing different virus-specific antibody detection methods. The findings are outlined below:
Zika Virus Infection
In recent times, the prevalence of Zika virus (ZIKV) diseases has dramatically increased. The virus is primarily transmitted to humans through the mosquito vector, forming a human-to-mosquito-to-human transmission cycle. There have also been previous reports of a sylvatic transmission cycle occurring in forested areas. In this context, monkeys are believed to play a crucial role as amplifying hosts and bridge species, potentially harboring the disease and facilitating its spread to humans.
Our study, conducted between 2015 and 2017, focused on investigating the distribution and interaction of the Zika virus in mammalian hosts in Thailand. The findings revealed that the percentage of ZIKV infection was less than 10% among specimens from non-human primates, including Pig-tailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina), Long-Tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis), and Bengal Slow Lorises (Nycticebus bengalensis) inhabiting various locations in Thailand.
This information regarding arboviral infection has provided valuable insights into the viral circulation in Thailand. Such insights are instrumental in the epidemiological management, control, and prevention of arboviral diseases, thereby contributing significantly to our efforts to curb epidemic outbreaks.
References
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Nakgoi K, Nitatpattana N, Wajjwalku W, Pongsopawijit P, Kaewchot S, Yoksan S, et al. Dengue, Japanese encephalitis and Chikungunya virus antibody prevalence among captive monkey (Macaca nemestrina) colonies of Northern Thailand. Am J Primatol. 2014;76:97–102.
Perera R, Kuhn RJ. Structural proteomics of dengue virus. Curr Opin Microbiol. 2008;11(4):369-77.
Tongthainan D, Mongkol N, Jiamsomboon K, Suthisawat S, Sanyathitiseree P, Sukmak M, Wajjwalku W, Poovorawan Y, Ieamsaard G, Sangkharak B, Taruyanon K, Fungfuang W, Tulayakul P, Boonnak K. Seroprevalence of Dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya Viruses in Wild Monkeys in Thailand. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2020 ;103(3):1228-1233.
Kanaporn Poltep
Research Assistant, The Monitoring and Surveillance Center for Zoonotic Diseases in Wildlife and Exotic Animals (MoZWE)
Phirom Prompiram
Senior Researcher, The Monitoring and Surveillance Center for Zoonotic Diseases in Wildlife and Exotic Animals (MoZWE)
Aeknarin Saechin
Academic Statistician, The Monitoring and Surveillance Center for Zoonotic Diseases in Wildlife and Exotic Animals (MoZWE)