Serological survey of Toscana virus infections in a high-risk population in Italy

Clin Diagn Lab Immunol. 2003 May;10(3):483-4. doi: 10.1128/cdli.10.3.483-484.2003.

Abstract

Toscana virus is the most important agent responsible for meningitis in central Italy. We report a serosurveillance study, using an immunoenzymatic assay, of 360 serum samples harvested from a high-risk population occupationally exposed to Toscana virus in two regions of Italy, Tuscany and Piedmont. The results indicates a seroprevalence of Toscana virus of 77.2% in the forestry workers, particularly in the Tuscany region. This fact is strictly correlated with the ecological niches specific for the survival of Toscana virus arthropod vector.

MeSH terms

  • Arboviruses
  • Forestry
  • Humans
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Occupational Diseases / diagnosis
  • Occupational Diseases / epidemiology
  • Phlebotomus Fever / diagnosis*
  • Phlebotomus Fever / epidemiology*
  • Population Surveillance / methods
  • Risk Factors
  • Sandfly fever Naples virus / immunology*
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Serologic Tests