WHAT IS THE RISK OF NEPHROPATHY ASSOCIATED WITH HANTAVIRUS IN AEGEAN REGION

Hantavirus has been reported as the causative agent of hemorrhagic fever and renal syndrome (HFRS) in some regions of the Europe. The disease has been seen in the west and north shores of the Aegean Sea. To investigate the presence of this virus in our region, which is located in the east shore of the Aegean Sea, serum samples obtained from 231 cases for any reason have been evaluated serologically by WHO Collaborating Center for Reference and Research on Arboviruses and Hemorrhagic Fever Virus. Ten cases (4.3 %) have been found to have variable positive titers by IFAT method (range; 1:32 -1:512). The mean age of the cases were 47.2±20.1 years (range; 3.0 - 92.0) and 125 (54 %) of them were female. While six (7.3 %) of the cases with nephropathy (82:231; 35.4 %) have been determined as seropositive (range; 1:32 - 1:512), four (2.6 %) of the cases without nephropathy and any infectious disease (149:231; 64.6 %) had positive serology (range; 1:32 - 1:128). Seropositivity ratio among the nephropathic patients undergoing dialysis therapy was 6/51 (11.7 %), whereas no case among predialytic patients had positive serology. The statistical difference for seropositivity incidence between the control and nephropathic cases was not significant (p>0.2). On the other hand, the difference between the acute and chronic nephropathic cases with respect to seropositivity was not significant (p>0.3). However, when the history of the "cases with positive serology was evaluated, none of them described any clinical picture compatible with HFRS and / or any infectious disease which might lead to the same seropositivity. In addition, clinical and histopathological diagnosis of the patients with nephropathy having positive serology were not associated with HFRS. In conclusion, Hantavirus is found in the east shore of the Aegean Sea, in Anatolia, as a pathogen and may cause abortive infection.