title: West Nile virus--neutralizing antibodies in humans in Greece.
abstract: Serum samples collected during March-May 2007 from 392 residents of Imathia prefecture, Northern Greece, were tested by indirect immunofluorescence assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for IgG antibodies against West Nile virus (WNV). Microneutralization assay was applied in six positive samples. Four (4/392, 1.02%) were found positive for WNV-neutralizing antibodies. None of the positive individuals had a history of travel in endemic area or flavivirus vaccination, suggesting that WNV, or an antigenically related flavivirus, circulates in an endemic sylvatic cycle, at least locally, in rural areas in Greece. Human, animal, and vector surveillance systems have to be implemented to provide an early detection of WNV activity in Greece.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. annap@med.auth.gr
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papa
authors.forename: Parthena
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Perperidou
authors.forename: Anisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tzouli
authors.forename: Concetta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Castilletti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G