Serological and molecular screening of arenaviruses in suspected tick-borne encephalitis cases in Finland

Serological and molecular screening of arenaviruses in suspected tick-borne encephalitis cases in Finland

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) is one of the arenaviruses infecting humans. LCMV infections have been reported worldwide in humans with varying levels of severity. To detect arenavirus RNA and LCMV-reactive antibodies in different geographical regions of Finland, we screened human serum a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Epidemiology and infection Vol. 152; p. e20
Main Authors: Alburkat, Hussein Abas Thamer, Pulkkinen, Emilia, Virtanen, Jenni, Vapalahti, Olli, Sironen, Tarja, Jääskeläinen, A. J.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 22-01-2024
Subjects:
Acids
Adult
Age
Age groups
Aged
Animals
Antibodies
Antibodies, Viral
Arachnids
Cerebrospinal fluid
Encephalitis
Encephalitis, Tick-Borne - diagnosis
Encephalitis, Tick-Borne - epidemiology
Finland - epidemiology
Humans
Immunofluorescence
Infections
Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis - diagnosis
Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis - epidemiology
Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus
Mice
Middle Aged
Nucleic acids
Original Paper
Polymerase chain reaction
Population number
RNA-directed DNA polymerase
Rodents
Seroepidemiologic Studies
Serology
Statistical analysis
Tick-borne encephalitis
Viruses
Finland
arenaviruses
zoonoses
Serology
surveillance
LCMV-like virus
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Summary:Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) is one of the arenaviruses infecting humans. LCMV infections have been reported worldwide in humans with varying levels of severity. To detect arenavirus RNA and LCMV-reactive antibodies in different geographical regions of Finland, we screened human serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples, taken from suspected tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) cases, using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunofluorescence assay (IFA). No arenavirus nucleic acids were detected, and the overall LCMV seroprevalence was 4.5%. No seroconversions were detected in paired serum samples. The highest seroprevalence (5.2%) was detected among individuals of age group III (40–59 years), followed by age group I (under-20-year-olds, 4.9%), while the lowest seroprevalence (3.8%) was found in age group IV (60 years or older). A lower LCMV seroprevalence in older age groups may suggest waning of immunity over time. The observation of a higher seroprevalence in the younger age group and the decreasing population size of the main reservoir host, the house mouse, may suggest exposure to another LCMV-like virus in Finland.
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ISSN:0950-2688
1469-4409
DOI:10.1017/S0950268824000128