Survey for antibodies against group B arboviruses in man in Kuwait

A randomly selected human population sample from Kuwait was serologically screened for retrospective evidence of group B Arbovirus infection. 627 Serum specimens (376 male, 251 female) were collected during 1966 to 1968. The donors were aged 8 mth to 60 yr and were apparently healthy. The microtiter HI test was adopted, and 3 group B Arbovirus antigens were used for the study. The overall seroreactivity of the group was 29.3%; WN antibody was most prevalent, with an incidence of 16.6%. There was no significant variation in the endemicity of this virus, neither in residential districts nor in Bedouin versus urban people. The results also indicated a probable DEN virus activity in the locality. After exclusion of the superfection HI reactions to this virus, the prevalence rates were at least 1.9% for DEN type I and 3% for type II. Virus isolation investigations are needed to ascertain the activity of these viruses in the area.