Abstract

Chikungunya is a growing public health concern around the world. Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is maintained in forest cycle involving nonhuman primates and Aedes species in Africa. Several reports about importation of Chikungunya have been made by travelers returning to Europe, Asia and America from west and central Africa. There is scanty information in the guinea savannah which is a buffer zone between the arid north-African climate and tropical rain forest region. This study determined previous exposure to CHIKV in urban populations within the guinea savannah region to provide insight into CHIKV transmission. A cross-sectional study was carried out among 89 participants enrolled from General Hospital, Civil Service Hospital and Cottage Hospital in Ilorin metropolis within Kwara State. Qualitative Competitive Chikungunya Enzyme Linked Immunoassay kit was used to detect IgG antibodies that target CHIKV E2/E1 proteins. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 22. Statistically significant level was set at p¡Ü0.05. Among the study participants, 24.7% was previously exposed to CHIKV. Age bracket 31-40years had the highest proportion of people with anti-CHIKV IgG antibodies. Children under 10years of age were least exposed to CHIKV. This study observed that Chikungunya is endemic in Ilorin Nigeria. Risk of transmission in guinea Savannah region is higher than in the arid northern part of Nigeria. This study informs advanced studies in spatio-temporal epidemiology of CHIKV. There is need for sustained surveillance efforts and strengthened vector control measures.

Key words: Chikungunya virus, Guinea Savannah, Ilorin, Immunoglobulin G, Urban