Clinical manifestations of chikungunya among university professors and staff in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic/Manifestaciones clinicas del chikungunya en profesores y personal universitario de Santo Domingo

Objective. To further characterize chikungunya virus infection and its associated clinical manifestations, using a sample of university professors and staff in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic. Methods. A cross-sectional study with quota sampling by department was performed to obtain a convenience sample of professors (n = 736) and staff (n = 499) at the Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo. Surveys were used to collect demographic and infection data during the fall term of 2014. Univariate and bivariate analyses were carried out to quantify infection and clinical manifestation prevalence and to assess relationships of these outcomes with age, sex, and acute phase duration. Results. Of 1 236 participants, 49% reported infection (professors = 41%; staff = 61%). Of these, 53% also reported the presence of chronic effects, largely arthralgia (48%). Significant relationships were observed between reported infection and sex (P = 0.023), age (P < 0.001), and occupation (P < 0.001). More headache (P = 0.008) and edema (P < 0.001) in females, more headache (P = 0.005) in younger subjects, and more myalgia (P = 0.006) in those with longer acute symptoms were found. Additionally, more chronic arthralgia (P < 0.001; P = 0.003) and chronic edema (P < 0.001; P = 0.001) in females and older subjects, and more chronic myalgia (P = 0.041) and chronic edema (P = 0.037) in those with longer acute symptoms were observed. Conclusions. To the authors knowledge, this is the first population-based chikungunya prevalence study in the Dominican Republic, and the first to explore clinical manifestations in a university setting. The findings reflect results from studies following the 2005-2006 Reunion Island outbreak: prevalence of infection and chronic arthralgia, as well as associations with sex, age, and acute intensity. Longitudinal research can provide further insight into these effects. Keywords Chikungunya virus; communicable diseases; Aedes aegypti; Aedes albopictus; the Dominican Republic. Objetivo. Caracterizar de manera mas detallada la infeccion por el virus del chikungunya y sus manifestaciones clinicas, a partir de una muestra de profesores y personal universitario de Santo Domingo (Republica Dominicana). Metodos. Se realizo un estudio transversal con muestreo por cuotas segun los departamentos, a fin de obtener una muestra de conveniencia de profesores (n = 736) y otro personal (n = 499) de la Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo. Se recopilaron mediante encues