A serosurvey reveals Bosnia and Herzegovina as a Europe's hotspot in hantavirus seroprevalence.
The extent of hantavirus seroprevalence in the healthy population from Bosnia and Herzegovina has not yet been investigated; therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the hantavirus seroprevalence in the population from different regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and in different risk groups. The serosurvey included 1331 subjects from endemic and non-endemic regions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. All sera samples were examined using IgG ELISA, and Western blot (Bunyavirus IgG) tests. Hantavirus seroprevalence was 7.4% in the endemic region and 2.4% in the non-endemic region (P<0.05). Former soldiers from the endemic region had significantly the highest seroprevalence (16.1%) compared to the general population from the endemic region (6.2%), the occupational risk group from the non-endemic region (5.6%) and the general population from the non-endemic region (0.8%) (P<0.01). No difference in hantavirus seroprevalence between gender or age groups was observed. Hantavirus seroprevalence in different populations in Bosnia and Herzegovina was found to be highest compared to other central European countries.
Hukic
M
M
Institute for Clinical Microbiology, Clinical Centre University of Sarajevo, Bolnicka 25, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. mirsadahukic@yahoo.com
Nikolic
J
J
Valjevac
A
A
Seremet
M
M
Tesic
G
G
Markotic
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D017522:Bosnia and Herzegovina / Q000453:epidemiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D006476:Orthohantavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018778:Hantavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D000914:Antibodies, Viral