First serologic evidence of human hantavirus infection in Alagoas State in Northeastern Brazil

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: José Alfredo dos Santos-Júnior, Flávio Martins dos Santos, Patrícia Alves Barros, Nedja Poliane Torres Medeiros, Gilberto Sabino-Santos Júnior, Magliones Carneiro de Lima, Luiz Tadeu Moraes Figueiredo, Alessandra Abel Borges
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT)
• Subjects: Hantavirus; Surveillance; Northeast Brazil; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0117-2017; https://doaj.org/article/c3753e4e38c145ca8b6a7dbb8f694009

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) is rare in Northeastern Brazil. METHODS: Prospective surveillance was conducted over a two-year period in Alagoas State, Northeastern Brazil. The prevalence of anti-hantavirus N-antigen IgM and IgG in human serum samples was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay testing. RESULTS: High avidity IgG was found in nine of 476 serum samples tested (from 102 patients with clinical manifestations compatible with HCPS, 124 patients with leptospirosis, and 250 healthy rural workers). CONCLUSIONS: Serologic evidence of past hantavirus infection in residents of Alagoas State indicates that hantaviruses are present in northeastern Brazil, even in areas silent for HCPS.