Detection of specific antibodies against West Nile and Usutu viruses in healthy blood donors in northern Italy, 2010–2011

• Published in: Clinical microbiology and infection Vol. 19; no. 10; pp. E451 - E453
• Main Authors: Pierro, A., Gaibani, P., Spadafora, C., Ruggeri, D., Randi, V., Parenti, S., Finarelli, A.C., Rossini, G., Landini, M.P., Sambri, V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2013; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Antibodies, Viral - blood; Blood; Blood donors; Blood Donors - statistics & numerical data; Female; Flavivirus - immunology; Flavivirus - isolation & purification; Flavivirus Infections - blood; Flavivirus Infections - epidemiology; Flavivirus Infections - immunology; Humans; Italy; Italy - epidemiology; Male; Middle Aged; Seroepidemiologic Studies; seroprevalence; Usutu virus; West Nile Fever - blood; West Nile Fever - epidemiology; West Nile Fever - immunology; West Nile virus; West Nile virus - immunology; West Nile virus - isolation & purification; Young Adult; Italy; seroprevalence; Italy; Usutu virus; West Nile virus; Blood donors
• ISSN: 1198-743X; 1469-0691; 1469-0691
• DOI: 10.1111/1469-0691.12241

Neutralizing antibodies against West Nile (WNV) and Usutu (USUV) viruses were measured in 6000 samples collected, between 1 September 2010 and 30 June 2011, from blood donors living in different districts of Emilia-Romagna, northeastern Italy. On the basis of the microneutralization assay (MNTA), 47 (0.78%) subjects were positive for WNV and 14 (0.23%) for USUV. These results were compared with those obtained 2 years ago and suggest an increased circulation of USUV among humans in Emilia-Romagna.