title: Seroepidemiological survey of hantavirus infection in healthy people in Vallès Occidental, Barcelona.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hantaviruses are the etiological agents of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in Europe and Asia, and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in America. Approximately 150,000 cases are reported annually worldwide. In Spain, some hantavirus infection cases have been described. Besides, rodents that have been described as hantavirus reservoirs are present. The aim of the present study was to determinate the seroprevalence of hantavirus in humans in the northeast of Spain.
  
  
  METHODS
  During a 5-month period, 217 serum samples were collected. The study population was stratified by age, gender, and residential area. Age, gender, residential area, contact with pets, contact with wild animals, contact with farm animals, and occupation were surveyed. Immunoglobulin G antibodies to Hantaan virus, Seoul virus, or Puumala virus were examined by immunofluorescence assay. Titles ≥1/32 against any of the hantavirus were considered positive.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four (1.8%) positive samples were detected. Age ranged from 14 to 67 years. Two subjects were male. Three samples reacted to both Puumala virus and Hantaan virus. The other one reacted against all three hantavirus surveyed. Titles ranged from 32 to 1024. The highest titles were found against Seoul virus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data show serological evidence about hantavirus infection among population of Catalonia, northeast of Spain. Seroprevalence rate was (around 2%) similar to other regions of Spain.
authors.affiliation: UDIAT Diagnostic Center, Corporació Sanitària Parc Taulí, Sabadell, Spain. isanfeliu@tauli.cat
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sanfeliu
authors.forename: Maria Mercedes
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Nogueras
authors.forename: María Isabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Gegúndez
authors.forename: Ferran
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Segura
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lledó
authors.forename: Bernat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Font
authors.forename: José Vicente
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Saz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D018063:Hantaan virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006480:Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029262:Puumala virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D029263:Seoul virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult