Follow-Up Household Serosurvey in Northeast Brazil for Zika Virus: Sexual Contacts of Index Patients Have the Highest Risk for Seropositivity

Background. Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne virus that is also transmitted sexually; however, the epidemiological relevance of ZIKV sexual transmission in endemic regions is unclear. Methods. We performed a household-based serosurvey in Northeast Brazil to evaluate the differential exposure to ZIKV and chikungunya virus (CHIKV) among households. Individuals who participated in our previous arboviral disease cohort (indexes) were recontacted and enrolled, and their household members were newly enrolled. Results. The relative risk of sexual partners being ZIKV-seropositive when living with a ZIKV-seropositive index participant was significantly higher, whereas this was not observed among nonsexual partners of the index. For CHIKV, both sexual and nonsexual partner household members living with a CHIKV-seropositive index had a significantly higher risk of being seropositive. In the nonindex-based dyadic and generalized linear mixed model analyses, the odds of sexual dyads having a concordant ZIKV plaque reduction neutralization test result was significantly higher. We have also analyzed retrospective clinical data according to the participants' exposure to ZIKV and CHIKV. Conclusions. Our data suggest that ZIKV sexual transmission may be a key factor for the high ZIKV seroprevalence among households in endemic areas and raises important questions about differential disease from the 2 modes of transmission.

Automated summary

The study suggests that sexual transmission of ZIKV may be a key factor for the high ZIKV seroprevalence among households in Northeast Brazil. Additionally, household members living with CHIKV-positive indexes have a significantly higher risk of being seropositive for CHIKV, regardless of their relationship with the index. Sexual partners are more likely to have concordant ZIKV results.