DEMELE-JEV : acute meningo-encephalitis among children in Cambodia

Diagnostics and surveillance of acute meningo-encephalitis among children in Cambodia with a focus on Japanese Encephalitis Virus

Last updated on 02 December 2025

Main points

  • DEMELE-JEV is a prospective observational paediatric cohort, combining both cross-sectional and longitudinal designs, conducted in Cambodia.
  • The primary aim of the study is to quantify the clinical burden of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and to investigate the asymptomatic circulation of JEV among Cambodian children.
  • The study focuses on two groups: children without fever at recruitment and children hospitalized with febrile neurological syndrome (FNS).

Objectives of the ANRS 0629s DEMELE-JEV study

Primary endpoint

Incidence of Japanese Encephalitis Virus infection in both participant groups based on laboratory confirmation (PCR positivity, seroconversion, or 4 fold antibody rising based on ELISA results, with confirmatory testing by virus neutralization assays).

Secondary endpoints

  • To estimate the anti-JEV seropositivity rate in children attending Kantha Bopha hospitals in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap for different age groups.
  •  To describe the influence of dengue immunity on the epidemiological, clinical, and biological characteristics of JEV infection (cohorts 1 and 2).
  • To develop new tools (Luminex serology) for diagnosis of JEV infection
  • To develop evaluate new tools (QUIASTAT) for diagnosis of meningitis and encephalitis infection in Cambodia
  • To model anti-JEV antibody kinetics over time following natural infection and vaccination (cohorts 1 and 2).
  • Using mathematical modeling of antibody titers, to quantify DENV and JEV interaction, e.g., to estimate the reduction of the risk of JEV infection following DENV infection.

Status
Enrolment in progress. First enrolled on November 20, 2025.

Pathology
Japanese encephalitis

Sponsor
Inserm / ANRS MIE

Number of participants
4 000

Download the study information for researchers

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Download the study information for participants

.pdf 265 KB

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