Seroprevalence Study on West Nile Virus (WNV) Infection, a Hidden Viral Disease in Fars Province, Southern Iran

Abstract

Background: West Nile Virus, a mosquito-borne flavivirus, causes a variety of symptoms in human, from asymptomatic infection to neuroinvasive disease. Several studies have been conducted on the seroprevalence of WNV infection in different areas from Iran. This study was performed to find the presence of antiviral antibodies in human serum among some high risk population and awareness of health care staff about symptom of the WNV infection.
 Methods: Study performed in five geographical districts based on high population of immigrant and domestic birds and prevalence of the antiviral antibodies in horses which was reported previously. Totally 150 human blood samples were collected during 2018. The samples collected from patients referred to the clinics. The ELISA method used to detect IgG and IgM antibody against WNV. Logistic regression models used to analyze the effect of sex, age, keeping birds and urban/rural residence on the risk of infection. The awareness of health care staff about symptom of infection surveyed.
 Results: From all blood donors, 41 samples (27.33%) showed positive to IgG antibody. From which 56.10% were males and remaining females. None of the mentioned factors had a significant relationship. Health care staff had less attention to the infection.
 Conclusions: Although the prevalence of antibodies was relatively high, due to the similarity to other viral diseases, health care staff had less attention to the disease. The study showed that people in these areas have been exposed to the virus. Further research activities are recommended for control of this arbovirus.

West Nile Virus Seroprevalence in Wild Birds and Equines in Madrid Province, Spain

“…Seroprevalence findings in birds from this study fall within the range of previous research in Spain using the cELISA tests, indicating seroprevalence rates ranging from 1.96% to 31.25% [ 39 ]. Serological results in wild birds from around the world using various cELISA protocols also reveal a broad range of seroprevalence rates: 1.3% in Cyprus [ 40 ], 5.5% in Senegal [ 41 ], 6.6% in the United States [ 42 ], 11.9% in Bangladesh [ 43 ], 13.3% in Poland [ 44 ], 27.33% in Iran [ 45 ], and 32.1% in Romania [ 46 ].…”

Species Composition and Geographic Distribution of Culicinae Mosquitoes and Their Possible Infection with West Nile Virus in Hormozgan Province, Southern Iran

“…Moreover, Cx. quinquefasciatus plays a major role in virus transmission among birds ( 6 – 7 , 19 , 22 , 23 ).…”

“…Hormozgan, due to its numerous wetlands and mangrove forests, hosts a variety of birds every year from October to the end of May. Culex mosquitoes due to their ornithophilic feature are considered important vectors of WNV ( 6 – 7 ). Recently the presence of WNV was reported in mosquitoes in the northwestern ( 8 ) and southern part of Iran in Hormozgan Province.…”

Trends in ELISA-Based Flavivirus IgG Serosurveys: A Systematic Review

“…The Euroimmun kit, on the other hand, has a reported sensitivity of 91.1% and a specificity of 100.0% according to one study that used patient samples [74]. It is also reported to have low cross-reactivity to other flaviviruses [75]. This may be why for WNV serosurveys, Focus kits were more commonly used by earlier studies, but later studies have shifted towards a preference for Euroimmun kits (Table S4).…”