Presence of antibodies to tick borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and West Nile virus (WNV) in children with fever and/or arthritis in Turkey

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Huseyin Yilmaz, Asiye Karakullukcu, Kenan Barut, Ozgur Kasapcopur, Aysun Yilmaz, Ayse A Ozkul, Utku Y Cizmecigil, Christine Klaus, Bekir Kocazeybek, Juergen A Richt and Nuri Turan

University of Istanbul, Turkey

University of Izmir, Turkey

Friedrich-Loeffler Institute, Germany

Kansas State University, USA

: J Virol Antivir Res

Abstract

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Tick borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and West Nile virus (WNV) are mainly transmitted by arthropod vectors and infects vertebrate animals and people causing fever and occasional neurological disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate antibodies to TBEV and WNV in children with fever and/or arthritis. For this, 110 sera were collected from children showing symptoms of fever and/or arthritis. Sera were analyzed by ELISA kits (Euroimmun) for the presence of IgM and IgG antibodies to TBEV and WNV. IgM antibodies to TBEV were detected in 5 children between the age of 3-7 years old. No IgG antibodies to TBEV were detected. Whereas IgG antibodies to WNV were detected in 2 and IgM antibodies to WNV were detected in 6 children between the age of 3-7 years old. Children who had antibodies to TBEV and WNV had fever and/or arthritis but no neurological disorders. Results of this study indicate that children are exposed to TBEV and WNV infection in Turkey and it is important to follow up these children with arthritis for neurological disorders.

Biography

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