[Serological characteristics of hantaviruses from clinical specimens analyzed in 1998-2008 in the Department of Virology, Public Health Institute, Ostrava]

Epidemiol Mikrobiol Imunol. 2009 Aug;58(3):115-20.
[Article in Czech]

Abstract

In 1998 - 2008, serum samples from 464 patients, predominantly residents of the Moravia-Silesian Region, were examined in the Department of Virology, Public Health Institute in Ostrava, using Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) for the detection of specific anti-hantavirus antibodies. Seropositivity was ascertained in 41 persons (8.8%). More patients tested seropositive against Hantaan virus (24, i.e. 58.5%) than against Puumala virus (13, i.e. 31.7%). Four persons were reactive against both antigens. Clinical symptoms corresponding to hantavirus infection were observed in 19 seropositive patients. Fifteen of them had antibodies reactive with Hantaan virus antigen (cross-reactive with anti-Dobrava virus), 3 patients had antibodies against Puumala virus and 1 patient had both types of antibodies. Clinical data on the other seropositive persons were lacking. The higher rate of Dobrava virus infections in the Moravian-Silesian Region seems to be associated, among others, with the geographic distribution of striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius) which is the main reservoir of Dobrava virus in Central Europe.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Hantavirus Infections / diagnosis
  • Hantavirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Orthohantavirus / immunology*
  • Puumala virus / immunology
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral