title: The Presence and Seroprevalence of Arthropod-Borne Viruses in Nasiriyah Governorate, Southern Iraq: A Cross-Sectional Study.
abstract: The knowledge on the presence and seroprevalence of arboviruses in Iraq is fragmental. To assess the exposure of the population to arbovirus infections in southern Iraq, we conducted a serological screening of the most common arbovirus groups using immunofluorescence, hemagglutination inhibition and neutralization tests. Serum samples of 399 adult volunteers were collected in Nasiriyah, Iraq. Antibodies were detected against West Nile virus (WNV) (11.6%), sandfly-borne Sicilian virus serocomplex (18.2%), sandfly-borne Naples virus serocomplex (7.8%), Sindbis virus (1.5%), chikungunya virus (0.5%), and Tahyna virus (2.0%). The results suggest that WNV and sandfly-borne phlebovirus infections are common in southern Iraq, and these viruses should be considered as potential causative agents in patients with febrile disease and/or neurological manifestations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Medical College, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq; Departments of Virology, Virology and Immunology, and Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Viral Infections Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Ali Mohammed
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Barakat
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Medical College, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq; Departments of Virology, Virology and Immunology, and Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Viral Infections Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland teemu.smura@helsinki.fi.
authors.forename: Teemu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Smura
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Medical College, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq; Departments of Virology, Virology and Immunology, and Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Viral Infections Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Suvi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuivanen
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Medical College, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq; Departments of Virology, Virology and Immunology, and Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Viral Infections Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Eili
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Huhtamo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Medical College, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq; Departments of Virology, Virology and Immunology, and Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Viral Infections Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Satu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kurkela
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Medical College, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq; Departments of Virology, Virology and Immunology, and Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Viral Infections Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Niina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Putkuri
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Medical College, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq; Departments of Virology, Virology and Immunology, and Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Viral Infections Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Hassan J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Hasony
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Medical College, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq; Departments of Virology, Virology and Immunology, and Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Viral Infections Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Haider
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Al-Hello
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Medical College, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq; Departments of Virology, Virology and Immunology, and Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Viral Infections Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Olli
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vapalahti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018354:Alphavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D001102:Arbovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001103:Arboviruses; D065632:Chikungunya Fever / Q000453:epidemiology; D002646:Chikungunya virus; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D002141:Encephalitis Virus, California; D004670:Encephalitis, California / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; D006801:Humans; D007493:Iraq / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D010217:Phlebotomus Fever / Q000453:epidemiology; D016856:Phlebovirus; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012845:Sindbis Virus; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000453:epidemiology; D014902:West Nile virus; D055815:Young Adult