Serological evidence of Mayaro virus infection in blood donors from São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil

Marilia Farignoli Romeiro; Marcílio Jorge Fumagalli; Ana Beatriz Dos Anjos; Luiz Tadeu Moraes Figueiredo

doi:10.1093/trstmh/traa016

Serological evidence of Mayaro virus infection in blood donors from São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2020 Sep 1;114(9):686-689. doi: 10.1093/trstmh/traa016.

Authors

Marilia Farignoli Romeiro¹, Marcílio Jorge Fumagalli¹, Ana Beatriz Dos Anjos^{1

2}, Luiz Tadeu Moraes Figueiredo¹

Affiliations

¹ Virology Research Center, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo state, Brazil.
² Banco de Sangue da Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo state, Brazil.

PMID: 32333001
DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/traa016

Abstract

Background: Human infections by Mayaro virus (MAYV) occur by insect bites upon exposure to rural or sylvatic areas. Information regarding MAYV transmission is limited due to a lack of commercial diagnostic assays and diagnostic confusion on account of similarities of clinical signs with other co-circulating arboviral diseases.

Methods: A serological survey of MAYV and Chikunguya virus (CHIKV) antibodies was performed by ELISA. Between 2017 and 2018, 5608 blood donor samples were tested.

Results: Specific IgM and IgG antibodies to MAYV were detected respectively in 36 and 11 samples, indicating a total seroprevalence of approximately 0.83%. Neutralization activity was observed in two IgG positive sera. Additionally, eight distinct samples had IgM antibodies to CHIKV alone.

Conclusions: Our data suggest previously unreported circulation of MAYV in São Carlos city, from southeastern Brazil.

Keywords: Mayaro virus; arboviruses; blood donors; seroepidemiology.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Alphavirus Infections*
Alphavirus*
Blood Donors
Brazil / epidemiology
Humans
Seroepidemiologic Studies