[Detection of anti-hantavirus antibodies in forest workers in the north-east of Poland].
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.
Grygorczuk
Sambor
S
Klinika Chorób Zakaźnych i Neuroinfekcji, Akademii Medycznej w Białymstoku. neuroin@amb.edu.pl
Pancewicz
Sławomir
S
Zajkowska
Joanna
J
Kondrusik
Maciej
M
Swierzbińska
Renata
R
Moniuszko
Anna
A
Pawlak-Zalewska
Wioletta
W
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
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G