Serological Evidence of Dengue Virus among Pregnant Women Attending Selected Hospitals in Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria

1Falmata Audu Gubio, 2Fatima Baba Ali, 2Fateema Umar Mustapha, 1Mohammed Mustapha Mohammed, 3Aisha Muhammad Ali 3Jamila Aliyu Jibrin

1Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria
2Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Borno State University, Borno State, Nigeria
3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, State Specialist Hospital Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria

*Corresponding author’s Email: fagubio2@gmail.com, doi.org/10.55639/607.272625


ABSTRACT

Dengue hemorrhagic fever, a common arboviral disease, poses a significant global health concern with increasing incidence and prevalence. This study investigates the serological evidence of Dengue virus infection among pregnant women attending selected hospitals in Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria. We assessed 62 blood samples from pregnant women at four hospitals, finding a 6.67% overall prevalence of Dengue virus infection. The prevalence was consistent across hospitals, indicating widespread transmission in Maiduguri. The highest infection rate was observed among women aged 18-27 years (7.40%), aligning with previous findings on agerelated susceptibility. This study emphasizes the need for enhanced surveillance, targeted control strategies, and the implementation of confirmatory testing methods to accurately assess Dengue virus transmission and its impact on vulnerable populations, particularly pregnant women. Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms driving Dengue virus transmission and to inform effective public health interventions.

Keywords:

Dengue fever,
Arboviral disease,
IgM,
IgG