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Insights into the acute phase of Nipah virus infection: clinical features, viral detection, and humoral immune response
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  • Syed Satter,
  • Sultana Sharmin,
  • Shadman Sakib Choudhury,
  • Wasik Rahman Aquib,
  • Dewan Imtiaz Rahman,
  • Mintu Chowdhury,
  • Md. Sazzad Hossain,
  • Arifa Nazneen,
  • Kamal Ibne Amin Chowdhury,
  • Anika Farzin,
  • Ayesha Siddika,
  • Fateha Ema,
  • Tonmoy Sarkar,
  • Arifur Rahman Bablu,
  • Rashedul Alam Emon,
  • Mohammad Enayet Hossain,
  • Md Taufiqur Rahman Bhuiyan,
  • Trevor Shoemaker,
  • Michael K. Lo,
  • John Klena,
  • Christina Spiropoulou,
  • Mohammed Ziaur Rahman,
  • Sayera Banu,
  • Tahmina Shirin,
  • Mahmuda Yasmin,
  • Firdausi Qadri,
  • Joel Montgomery,
  • Chowdhury Rafiqul Ahsan
Syed Satter
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Sultana Sharmin
Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research
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Shadman Sakib Choudhury
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh
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Wasik Rahman Aquib
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh
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Dewan Imtiaz Rahman
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh
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Mintu Chowdhury
Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research
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Md. Sazzad Hossain
Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research
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Arifa Nazneen
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh
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Kamal Ibne Amin Chowdhury
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh
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Anika Farzin
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh
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Ayesha Siddika
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh
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Fateha Ema
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh
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Tonmoy Sarkar
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh
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Arifur Rahman Bablu
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh
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Rashedul Alam Emon
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh
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Mohammad Enayet Hossain
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh
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Md Taufiqur Rahman Bhuiyan
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh
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Trevor Shoemaker
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Division of High Consequence Pathogens and Pathology
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Michael K. Lo
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Division of High Consequence Pathogens and Pathology
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John Klena
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Division of High Consequence Pathogens and Pathology
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Christina Spiropoulou
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Division of High Consequence Pathogens and Pathology
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Mohammed Ziaur Rahman
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh
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Sayera Banu
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh
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Tahmina Shirin
Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research
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Mahmuda Yasmin
University of Dhaka
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Firdausi Qadri
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh
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Joel Montgomery
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Division of High Consequence Pathogens and Pathology
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Chowdhury Rafiqul Ahsan
University of Dhaka
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Abstract

Background Nipah virus (NiV) infection poses a significant threat to global public health. Understanding its initial acute clinical phase and associated immunological responses may be crucial for assessing prognosis as well as developing effective treatment strategies. Methods: During the 2023 and 2024 NiV outbreaks in Bangladesh, clinical and laboratory data from 15 confirmed cases were collected in this study. Throat swabs and serum samples were tested for viral detection by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and humoral immune response by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) respectively. Findings: Cases were evenly distributed between genders, with a median age of 18 (0-65) years. The case fatality rate (CFR) for the 15 cases was 80% (12/15), with a median survival duration of 6 (3-16) days since illness onset among the deceased. Of the 12 (80%) primary infection cases, all had a history of raw date palm sap (DPS) consumption within 28 days preceding symptom onset. The median incubation period among primary cases was 11 days (range: 3-19 days), 3 days longer than that of secondary infection cases. Survivors exhibited a longer median incubation period of 13 (11-14) days compared to fatal cases for whom it was 10 (1-19) days. Serum samples from survivors tested by PCR were negative, indicating no evidence of viremia on diagnosis, whereas 92% (10/11) of the fatal cases that could be tested for serology, tested positive with their primary diagnostic sample. Anti-NiV IgM and IgG were detectable as early as the fourth and sixth day post-symptom onset, respectively, and as late as the 34 th day. All survivors tested IgG positive on diagnosis compared to only half of fatal cases. Interpretation: The study provides critical insights into the clinical indices, immune response, and viral detection during NiV infection. This could be pivotal in predicting clinical outcomes and guiding treatment strategies for NiV infection. Funding: US CDC, Atlanta