title: [New data for the public health importance of hantaviruses in Hungary].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The authors present recent results in the Hungarian hantavirus ecology and epidemiology. Most of the research was done between 1992-2000.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the presence and geographic distribution of hantaviruses and to get more detailed information of human and small-mammal infection with these viruses in Hungary.
  
  
  METHODS
  For diagnostic purposes (patients' sera), serosurvey of healthy persons and serological investigations of small mammals, the following tests were used: indirect fluorescent antibody, high density particle agglutination and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Virus isolation, antigen-, and nucleic acid detection were conducted for ecological investigations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  235 of 831 patients proved to be seropositive. 2257 sera of age matched Hungarian citizens above 20 years were tested in 2000. The average seropositivity proved to be about 10% using two different methods. Sera of 1512 individuals of nearly 20 different mammalian species were tested. Serological results revealed the prevalence of antibodies to human pathogen hantaviruses among rodents of about 7.25 percent. Molecular analysis of viral nucleic acid isolates from organs of four rodents proved directly the presence of viruses belonging to Puumala and Dobrava/Belgrade species in Hungary. Sequences corresponding to the Dobrava/Belgrade type viruses were found in two different rodent species. This suggests the existence of two hosts with different living preferences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At least two different human pathogen hantaviruses are circulating in Hungary. It has to be considered, that viruses belonging to the Dobrava/Belgrade species could emerge not only in the forested areas, but in the agricultural areas as well. Commercially available kits are not perfectly suitable for the detection of antibodies rised to domestic hantaviruses. It is necessary to built an appropriate laboratory for the hantavirus research in Hungary.
authors.affiliation: Johan Béla Országos Epidemiológiai Központ, Virológiai Fóosztály, Budapest. ferenczi.oek@antsz.gov.hu
authors.forename: Emóke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ferenczi
authors.forename: Gábor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rácz
authors.forename: Judit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szekeres
authors.forename: Katalin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Balog
authors.forename: Etelka
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tóth
authors.forename: Mára
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takács
authors.forename: Márta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Csire
authors.forename: Ilona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mezey
authors.forename: György
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Berencsi
authors.forename: Gábor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Faludi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006476:Orthohantavirus / Q000276:immunology*; D018778:Hantavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011634:Public Health; D012377:Rodentia; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral