Seroprevalence of Japanese encephalitis virus-specific antibodies in Australia following novel epidemic spread : protocol for a national cross-sectional study

N. E. Winkler, A. Koirala, G. Kaur, S. Prasad, R. Hirani, J. Baker, V. Hoad, Iain B. Gosbell, D. O. Irving, L. Hueston, M. V. N. O'Sullivan, J. Kok, D. E. Dwyer, K. Macartney, S. Lambert, N. Wood, T. Snelling, S. Bakar, K. Glasgow, K. HopeZ. Baldwin, C. Luscombe, D. Friedman, M. J. Marsland, T. Thomson, H. O’Brien, D. Williamson, C. Lim, S. Kitchener, A. Ratsch, J. Chor, A. Skyes, G. Khandaker, N. Smoll, J. Walker, B. Currie, J. Nelson, A. Hinchcliff, V. Krause, P. Worley, C. Hayward, Australian Japanese Encephalitis Virus Serosurvey Group

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2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Method Samples are collected using two approaches: from routine blood donors (4153 samples), and active collections targeting high-risk populations (convenience sampling). Consent-based sampling for the latter includes a participant questionnaire on demographic, vaccination and exposure data. Samples are tested for JEV-specific total antibody using a defined epitope-blocking ELISA, and total antibody to Australian endemic flaviviruses Murray Valley encephalitis and Kunjin viruses. Analysis Two analytic approaches will occur: descriptive estimates of seroprevalence and multivariable logistic regression using Bayesian hierarchical models. Descriptive analyses will include unadjusted analysis of raw data with exclusions for JEV-endemic country of birth, travel to JEV-endemic countries, prior JEV-vaccination, and sex-standardised and age-standardised analyses. Multivariable logistic regression will determine which risk factors are associated with JEV seropositivity likely due to recent transmission within Australia and the relative contribution of each factor when accounting for effects within the model. Ethics National Mutual Acceptance ethical approval was obtained from the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC). Local approvals were sought in each jurisdiction. Ethical approval was also obtained from the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood HREC. Dissemination Findings will be communicated to participants and their communities, and human and animal health stakeholders and policy-makers iteratively and after final analyses. Understanding human infection rates will inform procurement and targeted allocation of limited JEV vaccine, and public health strategies and communication campaigns, to at-risk populations.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere075569
Number of pages11
JournalBMJ Open
Volume14
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 7 Feb 2024

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© 2024 Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited, appropriate credit is given, any changes made indicated, and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/. Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

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