Naslov
A serologic survey of West Nile virus and Usutu virus in Croatia

Autori
Vilibic-Cavlek, Tatjana ; Stevanovic, Vladimir ; Pem-Novosel, Iva ; Gjenero-Margan, Ira ; Kaic, Bernard ; Barbic, Ljubo ; Ljubin-Sternak, Suncanica ; Listes, Eddy ; Mlinaric-Galinovic, Gordana ; Savini, Giovanni.

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
Final Programme European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 24th ECCMID / ESCMID - Barcelona, 2014, 152-152

Skup
24th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 24th ECCMID

Mjesto i datum
Barcelona, Španjolska, 10.05.2014. - 13.05.2014

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Poster

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
West Nile virus; Usutu virus; Seroprevalence; Croatia

Sažetak
Objectives: West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) are mosquito-borne viruses that belong to the Japanese encephalitis antigenic complex of the family Flaviviridae. While the role of WNV in human disease is well recognized, the medical importance of USUV is not completely understood. Serologic evidence for the presence of WNV in Croatia dates back to 1970s. WNV antibodies were sporadically detected in humans, brown bears and horses. USUV antibodies were so far detected only in two orses. During August-September 2012, Croatia experienced the first documented outbreak of humann euroinvasive WNV infection with seven laboratory confirmed cases reported in three eastern Croatian counties. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of WNV and USUV in the Croatian population. Methods: A total of 1002 serum samples collected from September 2012 to March 2013 were tested for the presence of WNV and USUV IgG antibodies. Samples were randomly selected from voluntary blood donors, hospitalized patients (preoperative check-up) and non-hospitalized patients coming for routine testing with no symptoms of acute febrile disease. Study participants were residents of all Croatian counties. Serologic tests were performed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA ; Euroimmun, Lübeck, Germany) and confirmed by micro-neutralization test at the Reference Centre for West Nile disease, Teramo, Italy. Additionaly, in IgG-positive samples, the presence of WNV IgM antibodies was determined. Results: WNV neutralizing antibodies were detected in 10 (1.0%) participants, six males and four females aged 30-79 years. Six of them showed positive IgM antibodies indicating recent WNV infection. Eight seropositive participants were residents of eastern Croatian counties while two were from northwest part of Croatia. The highest seroprevalence rates were documented in counties where clinical WNV cases had been reported in 2012 (2.7% and 1.7%, respectively). Only one participant (0.1%) from eastern Croatia tested positive for neutralizing antibodies to USUV. Conclusions: Exposure to WNV was documented in 1.0% of the Croatian inhabitants with the highest seroprevalence rate reported in counties where clinical cases had been notified during the 2012 outbreak. These results indicate increased viral activity in 2012 compared to 2011 (seroprevalence rate(0.1%). Serologic evidence of USUV was documented for the first time in one human sample in Croatia. Further studies are needed to estimate its epidemiological impact and possible threat for the human population.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Kliničke medicinske znanosti, Javno zdravstvo i zdravstvena zaštita

POVEZANOST RADA