title: Sindbis virus infection in resident birds, migratory birds, and humans, Finland.
abstract: Sindbis virus (SINV), a mosquito-borne virus that causes rash and arthritis, has been causing outbreaks in humans every seventh year in northern Europe. To gain a better understanding of SINV epidemiology in Finland, we searched for SINV antibodies in 621 resident grouse, whose population declines have coincided with human SINV outbreaks, and in 836 migratory birds. We used hemagglutination-inhibition and neutralization tests for the bird samples and enzyme immunoassays and hemagglutination-inhibition for the human samples. SINV antibodies were first found in 3 birds (red-backed shrike, robin, song thrush) during their spring migration to northern Europe. Of the grouse, 27.4% were seropositive in 2003 (1 year after a human outbreak), but only 1.4% were seropositive in 2004. Among 2,529 persons, the age-standardized seroprevalence (1999-2003) was 5.2%; seroprevalence and incidence (1995-2003) were highest in North Karelia (eastern Finland). Grouse may contribute to the epidemiology of SINV in humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Haartman Institute at the University of Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 3, Helsinki, Finland. satu.kurkela@helsinki.fi
authors.forename: Satu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kurkela
authors.forename: Osmo
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rätti
authors.forename: Eili
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Huhtamo
authors.forename: Nathalie Y
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Uzcátegui
authors.forename: J Pekka
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Nuorti
authors.forename: Juha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Laakkonen
authors.forename: Tytti
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Manni
authors.forename: Pekka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Helle
authors.forename: Antti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vaheri
authors.forename: Olli
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vapalahti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018354:Alphavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D025041:Animal Migration; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D046094:Galliformes / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012845:Sindbis Virus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D020308:Songbirds / Q000821:virology*; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology