title: Persistence of anti-West Nile virus-specific antibodies among asymptomatic blood donors in northeastern Italy.
abstract: The development and persistence of anti-West Nile Virus (WNV) immunoglobulin G (IgG)- and IgM-specific antibodies were investigated in 68 asymptomatic blood donors (BDs) previously tested as positive between October, 2008, and September, 2009, and living in northeastern Italy. Our study showed that WNV-specific IgG titers became negative (41%) or decreased (33%) in a large percentage of BDs, while they increased in a smaller percentage (10%); 16% of BDs showed no titer variation. Reversion to seronegative status within a short time frame suggests that WNV surveillance should be maintained year after year.
authors.affiliation: 1 Regional Reference Centre for Microbiological Emergencies (CRREM), of the Operative Unit of Clinical Microbiology, S. Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital , Bologna.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pierro
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gaibani
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Manisera
authors.forename: Giada
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rossini
authors.forename: Alba Carola
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Finarelli
authors.forename: Florio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ghinelli
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Macini
authors.forename: Maria Paola
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Landini
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sambri
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D001782:Blood Donors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M