Low Seroprevalence of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus Antibodies in Individuals Living in an Endemic Area in Japan

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a tick-borne infection with a high mortality rate. It is caused by the SFTS virus (SFTSV) and is endemic in some areas in western Japan, including the Kagoshima prefecture. In the present study, healthy individuals living in this prefecture were...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases Vol. 71; no. 3; pp. 225 - 228
Main Authors: Gokuden, Mutsuyo, Fukushi, Shuetsu, Saijo, Masayuki, Nakadouzono, Fumiko, Iwamoto, Yuka, Yamamoto, Mami, Hozumi, Nodoka, Nakayama, Kouichiro, Ishitani, Kanji, Nishi, Nobuyuki, Ootsubo, Mitsuhiro
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Japan National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases Editorial Committee 2018
Japan Science and Technology Agency
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Summary:Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a tick-borne infection with a high mortality rate. It is caused by the SFTS virus (SFTSV) and is endemic in some areas in western Japan, including the Kagoshima prefecture. In the present study, healthy individuals living in this prefecture were examined to assess for anti-SFTSV seroprevalence. An initial study was performed using the serum samples collected from a total of 646 individuals living in Kagoshima. At the same time, a questionnaire was used to collect information (such as occupation and a history of tick bite). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and indirect immunofluorescence assay were used for the screening. Finally, the seroprevalence of anti-SFTSV antibodies was confirmed using a neutralization assay. Only 2 (0.3%) out of 646 study participants were positive for anti-SFTSV antibodies. No significant difference was observed between individuals who are at a high or low risk of tick bite in terms of seropositivity. Next, a total of 1,000 serum samples collected from general blood donors by the Japanese Red Cross Kyushu Block Blood Center were tested. None of these samples tested positive for anti-SFTSV antibodies. These results suggest a low seroprevalence of anti-SFTSV antibodies in healthy individuals living in an endemic area in Japan.
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ISSN:1344-6304
1884-2836
DOI:10.7883/yoken.JJID.2017.497