title: [Detection of anti-hantavirus antibodies in forest workers in the north-east of Poland].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate exposition to hantaviruses in a high-risk population (forest workers) in the north-east of Poland.
  
  
  METHODS
  IgG antibodies against virus Puumala (PUUV) and Hantaan (HTNV) were detected by ELISA in sera of 59 forest workers from Podlaskie and Warmińsko-Mazurskie provinces (group I), as well as in 10 employees of Regional Forest Administration in Białystok (group II).
  
  
  METHODS
  Anti-PUUV IgG antibodies were detected in 3 persons in group I and 1 in group II. Anti-HTNV IgG were present in 1 person in group I and 2 in group II, in one case accompanying strong reactivity towards PUUV.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anti-PUUV IgG, suggestive of the history of non-diagnosed PUUV infection, were detected in 4 persons of 69 (5,7%). Isolated anti-HTNV IgG, which could indicate past infection with Saaremaa virus, antigenically related to HTNV, were present in 2 subjects (2,9%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Non-diagnosed infections with Puumala and Saaremaa viruses seem to occur in the high risk groups in the north-east of Poland, with frequency comparable to other European countries. Most infections are probably mild or asymptomatic.
authors.affiliation: Klinika Chorób Zakaźnych i Neuroinfekcji, Akademii Medycznej w Białymstoku. neuroin@amb.edu.pl
authors.forename: Sambor
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grygorczuk
authors.forename: Sławomir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pancewicz
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zajkowska
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kondrusik
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Swierzbińska
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moniuszko
authors.forename: Wioletta
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pawlak-Zalewska
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D016468:Forestry; D018063:Hantaan virus / Q000276:immunology*; D018778:Hantavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D029262:Puumala virus / Q000276:immunology; D012377:Rodentia; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G