title: Serological evidence of West Nile Virus infection among humans in the southern Provinces of Morocco.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of West Nile Virus infection in the southern provinces of Morocco.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 250 sera, collected during 2012 in the province of Dakhla, were analyzed by microneutralisation assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  WNV-neutralizing antibodies were detected in 13 samples (5.2%). The participants with WNV-specific antibodies were significantly younger than the rest of the population (p = 0.009). The positivity rate was higher among women (6.3%) than men (3.6%) (p = 0.26).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first serological evidence of WNV infection among humans in the southern provinces of Morocco.
authors: University Mohammed V-Souissi, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital, Biosafety Level 3 and Research Laboratory, Rabat, Morocco. elrhaffoulihicham@live.fr.
authors: Hicham
authors: H
authors: El Rhaffouli
authors: Idriss
authors: I
authors: Lahlou-Amine
authors: Chafiqua
authors: C
authors: Loutfi
authors: Abdellilah
authors: A
authors: Laraqui
authors: Tahar
authors: T
authors: Bajjou
authors: Ouafaa
authors: O
authors: Fassi-Fihri
authors: Mehdi
authors: M
authors: El Harrak
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009018:Morocco / Q000453:epidemiology; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D000914:Antibodies, Viral