The seroincidence of childhood Shigella sonnei infection in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

by Nick K. Jones, Trang Nguyen Hoang Thu, Ruklanthi de Alwis, Corinne Thompson, Ha Thanh Tuyen, Tran Do Hoang Nhu, Voong Vinh Phat, Pham Duc Trung, Phung Khanh Lam, Bui Thi Thuy Tien, Hoang Thi Diem Tuyet, Lu Lan Vi, Nguyen Van Vinh Chau, Nhi Le Thi Quynh, Stephen Baker

Shigella sonnei is a pathogen of growing global importance as a cause of diarrhoeal illness in childhood, particularly in transitional low-middle income countries (LMICs). Here, we sought to determine the incidence of childhood exposure to S. sonnei infection in a contemporary transitional LMIC population, where it represents the dominant Shigella species.

Participants were enrolled between the age of 12–36 months between June and December 2014. Baseline characteristics were obtained through standardized electronic questionnaires, and serum samples were collected at 6-month intervals over two years of follow-up. IgG antibody against S. sonnei O-antigen (anti-O) was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A four-fold increase in ELISA units (EU) with convalescent IgG titre >10.3 EU was taken as evidence of seroconversion between timepoints.

A total of 3,498 serum samples were collected from 748 participants; 3,170 from the 634 participants that completed follow-up. Measures of anti-O IgG varied significantly by calendar month (p = 0.03). Estimated S. sonnei seroincidence was 21,451 infections per 100,000 population per year (95% CI 19,307–23,834), with peak incidence occurring at 12–18 months of age. Three baseline factors were independently associated with the likelihood of seroconversion; ever having breastfed (aOR 2.54, CI 1.22–5.26), history of prior hospital admission (aOR 0.57, CI 0.34–0.95), and use of a toilet spray-wash in the household (aOR 0.42, CI 0.20–0.89).

Incidence of S. sonnei exposure in Ho Chi Minh City is substantial, with significant reduction in the likelihood of exposure as age increases beyond 2 years.