title: Prevalence of West Nile virus in Mashhad, Iran: A population-based study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prevalence of West Nile virus seropositivity in the general population of Mashhad, Northeast of Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and eighty two individuals living in the city of Mashhad were studied using cluster sampling method. Both IgM and IgG antibodies against WNV were detected by ELISA method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this study, the overall IgG seroprevalence of positive West Nile virus was 11%; however, IgM antibody was not found in the participants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggested that the prevalence rate of West virus is considerable in Mashhad city. It seems necessary for clinicians and health care workers to be aware of WNV infection in the Northeast Iran.
authors.affiliation: Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Meshkat
authors.affiliation: Arboviruses and Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers Laboratory (National Ref. Lab), Pasteur Institute of Iran. Electronic address: sadeghchinikar@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Sadegh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chinikar
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Public Health School, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: MohammadTaghi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shakeri
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Sciences, School of Paramedical and Rehabilitation, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Lida
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Manavifar
authors.affiliation: Arboviruses and Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers Laboratory (National Ref. Lab), Pasteur Institute of Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moradi
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.
authors.forename: Hessam
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mirshahabi
authors.affiliation: Arboviruses and Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers Laboratory (National Ref. Lab), Pasteur Institute of Iran.
authors.forename: Tahmineh
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jalali
authors.affiliation: Arboviruses and Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers Laboratory (National Ref. Lab), Pasteur Institute of Iran.
authors.forename: Sahar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khakifirouz
authors.affiliation: Arboviruses and Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers Laboratory (National Ref. Lab), Pasteur Institute of Iran.
authors.forename: Nariman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shahhosseini
keywords: Iran; Population; Prevalence; West Nile virus