title: Seroprevalence of hantavirus and Yersinia pestis antibodies in professionals from the Plague control program.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Professionals who handle rodents in the field and in the laboratory are at risk of infection by the microorganis mharbored by these animals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum samples from professionals involved in rodent and Yersinia pestis handling in field or laboratory work were analyzed to determine hantavirus and plague seroprevalence and to establish a relationship between these activities and reports of illnesses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two individuals had antibodies against hantavirus, and two harbored antibodie against the plague; none of the individuals had experienced an illness related to their duties.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results confirm the risks of hantavirus- and plague-related field and laboratory activities and the importance of protective measures for such work.
authors.affiliation: Curso de Pós Graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE.
authors.forename: Érika de Cássia Vieira da
authors.initials: Éde C
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Gerlane Tavares de Souza
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Chioratto
authors.forename: Paulo Thiago Melo
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Guaraná
authors.forename: Marise
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sobreira
authors.forename: Ivoneida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aragão
authors.forename: Robervaldo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sotelino Rocha
authors.forename: Celso
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tavares
authors.forename: Alzira Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Paiva de Almeida
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006476:Orthohantavirus / Q000276:immunology*; D018778:Hantavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D059232:Laboratory Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010930:Plague / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D012108:Research Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012377:Rodentia / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D015010:Yersinia pestis / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000914:Antibodies, Viral