Identification of IgG antibodies against arenavirus, hepatitis E and HTLV in a municipality in the northeast of Colombia

Abstract

Migration and urbanization processes contribute to the dispersion of pathogens, especially those with possible epizootic cycles, gaining importance in new populated areas. This panorama gets worst in developing countries like Colombia that still has limited capacity in strong epidemiological surveillance for noncommon microbial agents. Aim: This study evaluated the presence of IgG antibodies against Mammarenavirus from Tacaribe complex, Hepatitis E virus and HTLV type I or II in patients who visited the health center of a Montelibano (Cordoba), a rural-urban municipality of Colombia. Methods: ELISA's test carried out on 182 patients from Montelibano, Colombia in order to detect IgG antibodies. The sero-epidemiological study for IgG detection was conducted using Junin virus antigen, a HEV and an indirect HTLV-I/II Enzime-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, respectively. Results: Serological analysis allowed the detection of IgG antibodies for all the agents evaluated. Seroprevalence of IgG was 1.64% for the Mammarenavirus, 0,61% for the Hepatitis E and 0.61% for HTLV type 1 or 2. Conclusions: The results indicate the circulation of Mammarenavirus, Hepatitis E and HTLV in Montelibano, a municipality in the northeast of Colombia. Current seropositive percentage is similar or lower in comparison to other studies nevertheless epidemiological conditions like the presence of rodents at home and poor garbage collection services underline the necessity of better surveillance of these neglected viruses of which sporadic outbreaks have been reported. *Correspondence to: María del Pilar Delgado, Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Andes, Carrera 1 #18A-12, Bogotá D.C, Colombia, Tel: +571 3394949; E-mail: mdelgado@uniandes.edu.co