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

Japanese journal of infectious diseases

Fumiko Nakadouzono¹  Shuetsu Fukushi²  Masayuki Saijo³  Mutsuyo Gokuden⁴  Yuka Iwamoto⁵ 

[1]Aira Public Health Center, Health Social Welfare and Environmental Department, Aira-Isa Regional Promotion Bureau

[2]Department of Virology 1, National Institute of Infectious Diseases

[3]Health Promotion Division of the Health and Social Welfare Department, Kagoshima Prefecture

[4]Kagoshima Prefectural Institute for Environmental Research and Public Health

[5]Kaseda Public Health Center, Health Social Welfare and Environmental Department, Nansatsu Regional Promotion Bureau

关键词: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS);    seroprevalence;    Kagoshima;    ELISA;    IFA;    neutralization assay;   

DOI  :  10.7883/yoken.JJID.2017.497

学科分类：传染病学

来源: National Institute of Infectious Diseases

【 摘 要 】

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.

【 授权许可】

Unknown