Am. Ambrosio et al., PREVALENCE OF LYMPHOCYTIC CHORIOMENINGITIS VIRUS-INFECTION IN A HUMAN-POPULATION OF ARGENTINA, The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene, 50(3), 1994, pp. 381-386
Citations number
15
Categorie Soggetti
Public, Environmental & Occupation Heath","Tropical Medicine
The activity of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) in the endem
ic area of Argentine hemorrhagic fever has been previously reported an
d represents the first evidence of the coexistence of two arenaviruses
pathogenic for humans, Junin and LCMV, in the same geographic area. D
ata are presented on the prevalence of LCMV human infection in a 10,00
0-km(2) area located in Santa Fe Province, Argentina. Study subjects w
ere males, 15-65 years old, living and/or working in the rural area of
41 localities. One serum sample was obtained from each of 7,227 volun
teers from a total population of 21,340 individuals with the described
features. Antibodies to LCMV were assessed by means of an indirect im
munofluorescence assay. These antibodies were found in 172 serum sampl
es, with titers ranging from 1:8 to 1:128 (geometric mean titer = 15.0
3), and a mean percentage of infection of 2.38%. A significantly diffe
rent distribution of positive individuals was found between the easter
n (1.54%) and western (3.07%) borders of the region studied (P < 0.000
3). The higher percentage of infection on the western side was due to
the existence of two clusters of counties with a mean percentage of 6.
06% that was significantly different from the 1.67% obtained in the re
st of the study area (P < 0.0003). These results provide new informati
on on the LCMV activity in Argentina, and update the evidence on the c
oexistence of two arenaviruses in the same region of Argentina. This c
ircumstance increases the probability of generation of viral reassorta
nts with changes that could determine the need for new therapeutic and
/or preventive strategies for arenaviral diseases.