title: Serosurvey of hantavirus infection in humans in the border region between Brazil and Argentina.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  According to reports by the Ministry of Health, in the far western region of the State of Santa Catarina, there have been no reports of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a zoonotic disease transmitted by feces of infected rodents. A seroepidemiological study of residents of this region, was conducted, with the aim of determining the presence of hantavirus infections. A total of 340 volunteers of both genus, from the towns of Belmonte and Paraíso, were studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  The serum of these patients was collected and used to detect IgG antibodies against recombinant N protein of Araraquara hantavirus, by ELISA assay. The positive samples were then titrated and confirmed by immunofluorescence assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study demonstrated the presence of IgG antibodies against hantavirus N protein in 3.5% of the population. The most frequent occupation was farm worker, 81% had direct and indirect contact with rodents, 91.7% of positive cases were farm workers, indicating that the probable cause of infection occurred during barn cleaning. These antibodies are noteworthy, given that the levels of antibodies were verified in individuals whose contact with hantavirus may have occurred many years ago.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows the circulation of hantavirus in the region, a fact that until now, had not reported. All the serum reagents had contact with the pathogen, but did not develop pulmonary and cardiovascular syndrome. It is important to remain alert, because hantavirus is a serious and emerging disease of some relevance.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Pesquisa em Virologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil. wmarciel@hotmail.com
authors.forename: William Marciel de
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Alex Martins
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: Luiz Tadeu Moraes
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
authors.forename: Everton
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Boff
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002353:Carrier State; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000662:veterinary; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006476:Orthohantavirus / Q000276:immunology*; D018778:Hantavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012377:Rodentia; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G