title: Seroprevalence of and risk factors for Toscana and Sicilian virus infection in a sample population of Sicily (Italy).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study aimed to assess seroprevalence of and risk factors for Toscana (TOSV) and Sicilian (SFSV) virus infections in a sample of Sicilian subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional seroepidemiological study was conducted on 271 individuals. Each participant completed a self-administrated questionnaire and provided a serum sample which was analyzed for the presence of IgG specific anti-TOSV and anti-SFSV viruses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 90 subjects (33.2%) were positive for TOSV IgG, 25 (9.2%) were positive for SFSV IgG and 11 (4%) were positive for both the viruses. A higher risk for TOSV seropositivity was found in participants who were older (adjOR = 1.02 per year; 95% CI = 1.01-1.03), having a pet living outdoors (adjOR = 2.62; 95% CI = 1.42-4.83) and being obese (adjOR = 2.37; 95% CI = 1.06-5.30).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TOSV seroprevalence appears to be relatively high in Sicilian general population, especially in older adults, representing a potential public health concern. The observations that seropositivity for TOSV was not significantly associated with SFSV seropositivity, and none of the risk factors associated with TOSV were associated with SFSV seem to suggest that these two phleboviruses may have different ecology and transmission pathways.
authors: Department of Sciences for Health Promotion, G. D'Alessandro, University of Palermo, Via Del Vespro n°133, cap 90127, Italy.
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Calamusa
authors: Rosalia Maria
authors: RM
authors: Valenti
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Vitale
authors: Caterina
authors: C
authors: Mammina
authors: Nino
authors: N
authors: Romano
authors: James Jerome
authors: JJ
authors: Goedert
authors: Gianni
authors: G
authors: Gori-Savellini
authors: Maria Grazia
authors: MG
authors: Cusi
authors: Emanuele
authors: E
authors: Amodio
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010217:Phlebotomus Fever / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D016856:Phlebovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D011634:Public Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D029301:Sandfly fever Naples virus / Q000276:immunology*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012802:Sicily / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral