[Antibodies against Hantaan virus and Leptospira in subjects at risk in Rome]

Boll Ist Sieroter Milan. 1989;68(3):284-8.
[Article in Italian]

Abstract

A survey on the prevalence of Hantaan and leptospiral antibodies on mammalogists and rodent control personnel was performed. None of the 66 trappers studied (using IFI ) had detectable Hantaan antibody, while only 2 out of 20 mammalogists presented antibody at low titer (1:32). For leptospiral antibody the microagglutination test (MAT) using live leptospires as antigen was performed. 14 out of 66 trappers, or 21.2 per cent, had antibodies, at titer of 1:50 or more, to various leptospiral serovars: L.icterohaemorrhagiae in 12 cases, L.hardjo in 1 case, L.bratislava in 1 case. On the contrary, none of the mammalogists showed positivity for any of 16 serovars used. The environmental risk factors could justify the high prevalence of leptospiral antibodies in the field workers (trappers), while continuous laboratory contacts with rodents explain the presence of Hantaan virus antibodies in mammalogists .

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Agglutination Tests
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / analysis*
  • Antibodies, Viral / analysis*
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Humans
  • Leptospira / immunology*
  • Occupational Exposure
  • Orthohantavirus / immunology*
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Rodentia

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Antibodies, Viral