IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 4500: Screening of Forestry Workers in Guadalajara Province (Spain) for Antibodies to Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus, Hantavirus, Rickettsia spp. and Borrelia burgdorferi

IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 4500: Screening of Forestry Workers in Guadalajara Province (Spain) for Antibodies to Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus, Hantavirus, Rickettsia spp. and Borrelia burgdorferi International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph16224500 Authors: Lourdes Lledó Consuelo Giménez-Pardo María Isabel Gegúndez Exposure to Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), hantaviruses, Rickettsia spp. and Borrelia burgdorferi among forestry workers from a province in central Spain (Guadalajara) was examined by serological screening. This is the first such study in this rural area, where people often live and work in proximity to domestic and wild animals. Immunofluorescent analyses of the serum of 100 forestry workers detected IgG antibodies to LCMV in 2% (CL 95% 0.55%–7.0%) of this population, to hantaviruses in 4% (CL 95% 1.6%–8.3%) for the serum amyloid A (SAA) serotype, and 2% (CL 95% 0.55%–7.0%) for the Seoul virus (SEO) serotype (samples also positive for SAA), to Rickettsia in 8% (CL 95% 4.1%–15%) (3% (CL 95% 1.0%–8.5%) for R. typhi and 5% (CL 95% 2.2%–11.2%) for R. slovaca, and to B. burgdorferi in 7% (CL 95% 3.4%–13.8%). The number of people who have been exposed to these organisms is commonly underestimated since most infections are asymptomatic. Greater epidemiological surveillance may therefore be recommended.
Source: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Article Source Type: research