Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus Infections and Seroprevalence, Southern Iraq

Hussein Alburkat; Anne J Jääskeläinen; Ali M Barakat; Hassan J Hasony; Tarja Sironen; Haider Al-Hello; Teemu Smura; Olli Vapalahti

doi:10.3201/eid2612.201792

Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus Infections and Seroprevalence, Southern Iraq

Emerg Infect Dis. 2020 Dec;26(12):3002-3006. doi: 10.3201/eid2612.201792.

Authors

Hussein Alburkat, Anne J Jääskeläinen, Ali M Barakat, Hassan J Hasony, Tarja Sironen, Haider Al-Hello, Teemu Smura, Olli Vapalahti

Abstract

Acute febrile neurological infection cases in southern Iraq (N = 212) were screened for lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). Two LCMV IgM-positive serum samples and 2 cerebrospinal fluid samples with phylogenetically distinct LCMV strains were found. The overall LCMV seroprevalence was 8.8%. LCMV infections are common and associated with acute neurological disease in Iraq.

Keywords: IgG; IgM; Iraq; Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus; immunofluorescence assay; mammarenavirus; seroprevalence; viruses; zoonoses.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Antibodies, Viral
Humans
Iraq / epidemiology
Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis* / epidemiology
Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus*
Seroepidemiologic Studies

Substances

Antibodies, Viral