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Prevalence and Risk Factors for Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus Infection in Continental Croatian Regions

Authors :
Tatjana Vilibic-Cavlek
Tena Oreski
Misa Korva
Branko Kolaric
Vladimir Stevanovic
Snjezana Zidovec-Lepej
Irena Tabain
Pavle Jelicic
Bozana Miklausic-Pavic
Vladimir Savic
Ljubo Barbic
Tatjana Avsic-Zupanc
Source :
Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, Vol 6, Iss 2, p 67 (2021)
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2021.

Abstract

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) is a neglected human pathogen associated with aseptic meningitis, severe systemic infections in immunocompromised persons, and congenital anomalies. Data on the prevalence of LCMV infections are scarce. We analyzed the seroprevalence of LCMV in continental Croatian regions. A total of 338 serum samples of professionally exposed (forestry workers, hunters, agriculture workers in contact with rodents) and non-exposed populations (general population, pregnant women) were tested for the presence of LCMV antibodies using indirect immunofluorescence assay. No participants reported recent febrile disease. LCMV IgG antibodies were detected in 23/6.8% of participants: 9.8% exposed persons and 5.1% non-exposed persons (6.1% in the general population and 3.9% in pregnant women). No participants were LCMV IgM positive. Although higher seropositivity was found in males compared to females (8.9% vs. 4.7%), inhabitants of suburban/rural areas compared to inhabitants of urban areas (9.2% vs. 4.6%), and persons who used well as a source of water compared to those who used tap (11.4% vs. 5.6%), these differences did not reach statistical significance. Results of logistic regression showed that the presence of rodents in the house/yard and cleaning rodent nests were associated with an elevated risk for LCMV infection (OR = 2.962, 95% CI = 1.019–8.607).

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
24146366
Volume :
6
Issue :
2
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.3e6c6f63f19645feb5683db17bfbfbe5
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed6020067