Spatiotemporal Heterogeneity of Zika Virus Transmission in Indonesia: Serosurveillance Data from a Pediatric Population

Abstract

The presence of Zika virus (ZIKV) in Indonesia has been recognized since the 1970s, but its transmission dynamics there have been poorly understood. To understand more fully the geographic distribution and burden of ZIKV infection, we performed retrospective serological tests on specimens collected from asymptomatic children age 5 to 9 years old living at 30 sites in 14 provinces. Of 870 serum samples tested, 9.2% were found to be positive for anti-ZIKV antibodies, as confirmed by plaque reduction neutralization assays. This was the same overall prevalence reported previously for 1- to 4-year-old children collected at the same sites at the same time. Together with geographic differences in seroprevalence between the age groups, these data suggest that, although ZIKV might be endemic in Indonesia, its occurrence has been focal and episodic.

Figure 1.

Summary of Zika virus (ZIKV) and Dengue viruses (DENV) seroprevalences in children age 1 to 4 years old and 5 to 9 years old in Indonesia by province. ZIKV seroprevalences for 1- to 4-year-olds and DENV seroprevalences for both age groups are from previously reported studies.

Figure 2.

Geographic distribution of Zika virus (ZIKV) seropositive children, by province, Indonesia, October through November 2014. Labels indicate the percentages of 1- to 4-year-old and 5- to 9-year-old children who tested as true ZIKV seropositive (serum samples that neutralize ZIKV only or ≥ 4-fold ZIKV plaque reduction neutralization test [PRNT₉₀] titer compared with any dengue viruses PRNT₉₀ titer).