Ra. Hawkes et al., ARBOVIRUS INFECTIONS OF HUMANS IN HIGH-RISK AREAS OF SOUTH-EASTERN AUSTRALIA - A CONTINUING STUDY, Medical journal of Australia, 159(3), 1993, pp. 159-162
Objectives: To determine the current immune status of high-risk popula
tions of New South Wales and Victoria to the arboviral pathogens, Murr
ay Valley encephalitis (MVE) and Kunjin (KUN) viruses, which are assoc
iated with Australian encephalitis (AE), and Ross River (RR) and Kokob
era (KOK) viruses which are associated with polyarthritis. Further, to
estimate seroconversion rates to these viruses in high-risk populatio
ns over the 10-year period 1981-1991. Design and study population: Blo
od was taken from 2873 permanent residents, children and adults from p
reviously identified high-risk areas in western NSW and northern Victo
ria. Samples were tested by the haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) test
for antibodies to the four viruses. All sera were also tested for MVE
and KUN antibodies by the more specific: neutralisation test (NT). Ni
nety-five of the subjects had been seronegative when sampled 10 years
previously. Results: Age standardised prevalence rates for flavivirus
HI antibodies (MVE, KUN, KOK) ranged from 66% (Bourke) to 15% (Forbes)
, and were similar to those observed 10 years previously. However, spe
cific NT antibodies to MVE and KUN were uncommon in all districts exce
pt Bourke, indicating a very high level of susceptibility to Australia
n encephalitis, should a fresh epidemic occur. Whereas KUN virus seems
enzootic in NSW and Victoria, MVE did not appear to have been present
since the last outbreak in 1974, even in Bourke. Flavivirus antibody
rates (as detected by the broadly reactive HI test) greatly exceeded t
hose specifically attributable to MVE and KUN (NT test) or KOK, leadin
g to the speculation that unidentified flaviviruses are responsible fo
r most human infections. Ross River virus antibody prevalence rates ex
ceeded those of flaviviruses in all districts, ranging from 72% (Bourk
e) to 25% (Cohuna), and were uniformly higher than those observed in 1
981. Ten-year seroconversion rates in seronegative panels were 8.5% fo
r flaviviruses and 24.2% for RR virus, and are broadly consistent with
the cross-sectional study. Conclusions: Although flavivirus and alpha
virus infections have occurred at a ''steady rate'' in western NSW and
northern Victoria, there is a general lack of immunity to the agents
of Australian encephalitis in all centres except Bourke. This needs to
be considered in public health policy in these areas.