Prevalence of serum antibodies to hantavirus in a rural population from the southern state of Santa Catarina, Brazil

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Rodent-borne hantaviruses cause severe human diseases. We completed a serological survey of hantavirus infection in rural inhabitants of Turvo County, in the southern State of Santa Catarina, Brazil, in which seropositivity for hantavirus was correlated to previous disease in the participants. METHODS: The levels of IgG antibodies to hantavirus Araraquara in the sera of 257 individuals were determined using an immunoenzymatic assay. RESULTS: IgG antibodies to hantavirus were found in 2.3% of the participants. All seropositive participants reported previous disease with symptoms suggestive of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Human infections causing unreported cardiopulmonary syndrome probably occur in the southern State of Santa Catarina.

First serologic evidence of human hantavirus infection in Alagoas State in Northeastern Brazil

“…However, an IgG prevalence of 2% was reported in Uberlandia City in Minas Gerais State 12 , which is another hantavirus-endemic region; this is similar to the prevalence found in the present study. The IgG prevalence found in the present study is in keeping with prevalence rates in other regions where HCPS has not been described, such as in the southern parts of Santa Catarina State (2.3%) 13 , in Ceará State (2.8%) 14 , an in Ilhéus City in Bahia State (0.6%) 15 .…”

Serologic Survey on Hantavirus in Blood Donors From the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil

“…Antibodies to hantavirus were not detected in participants from the South of Santa Catarina (Criciúma city). However, a study in a rural population next to Criciúma city showed a 2.3% seroprevalence to hantavirus and all seropositive individuals referred a previous severe pneumonia that could have been HCPS 6 .…”

Análise preditiva da distribuição geográfica de hantavírus no Brasil

“…Esses casos são comprovados devido à presença de anticorpos contra hantavírus na população geral, detectados em inquéritos sorológicos, inclusive em pessoas sem nenhum histórico epidemiológico (Campos et al 2003, Pereira et al 2012). …”