Alphaviruses: Serological Evidence of Human Infection in Paraguay (2012-2013)

BRENDA S. KONIGHEIM*; JAVIER AGUILAR, ; MALVINA PÁEZ; MARÍA ASUNCIÓN VALLEJOS,; MARTA SILVIA CONTIGIANI,; BRENDA S. KONIGHEIM*; JAVIER AGUILAR, ; MALVINA PÁEZ; MARÍA ASUNCIÓN VALLEJOS,; MARTA SILVIA CONTIGIANI,; FÁTIMA MARÍA CARDOZO*; MARÍA ELISA RIVAROLA,; AGUSTÍN QUAGLIA, ; LUIS ADRIAN DÍAZ,; MARÍA LIDIA RECALDE,; FÁTIMA MARÍA CARDOZO*; MARÍA ELISA RIVAROLA,; AGUSTÍN QUAGLIA, ; LUIS ADRIAN DÍAZ,; MARÍA LIDIA RECALDE,; GUILLERMO ALBRIEU-LLINÁS, ; ALEJANDRA ROJAS, ; , YVALENA GUILLÉN,; LILIAN HEREBIA, ; LAURA PATRICIA MENDOZA; GUILLERMO ALBRIEU-LLINÁS, ; ALEJANDRA ROJAS, ; , YVALENA GUILLÉN,; LILIAN HEREBIA, ; LAURA PATRICIA MENDOZA

VECTOR-BORNE AND ZOONOTIC DISEASES

MARY ANN LIEBERT INC

Año: 2018 vol. 18 p. 266 - 272

1530-3667

Alphaviruses can produce febrile illness and encephalitis in dead-end hosts like horses and humans. Within this genus, the Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis virus (VEEV) complex includes pathogenic epizootic subtypes and enzootic subtypes that are not pathogenic in horses (except subtype IE, Mexican strains), although they can cause febrile symptoms in humans. The Rio Negro virus (RNV - VEEV subtype VI) circulates in Argentina, where it was associated with undifferentiated febrile illness. Mayaro (MAYV) and Una (UNAV) viruses belong to a different group, the Semliki Forest virus complex, with confirmed circulation. The present study aimed to determine RNV, MAYV and UNAV seroprevalences by plaque reduction neutralization test in 652 samples of Paraguayan individuals mainly from the Central Department, between years 2012 and 2013. Samples with antibodies titer >1:20 againstRNV were also tested for Mosso das Pedras (MDPV) - subtype IF, subtype IAB, and Pixuna (PIXV)-subtype IV viruses that belongs to VEEV antigenic complex.The overall seroprevalence of RNV was 3.83%, and for UNAV it was 0.46%, and no neutralizing antibodies was detected against MAYV in the studied population. Two of the 27 heterotypic samples were positive for PIXV. The 50.1% of neutralizing antibody titers against RNV were high (equal to or greater than 1/640), suggesting recent infections. The effect of age on the prevalence of RNV was negligible. These results bring new information about neglected alphaviruses in South America, and these data will serve as the basis for future studies of seroprevalence of others VEEV and studies to search potential hosts and vectors of these viruses in the region.