Screening of Forestry Workers in Guadalajara Province (Spain) for Antibodies to Virus, Hantavirus, spp. and .

Exposure to virus (LCMV), hantaviruses, spp. and among forestry workers from a province in central Spain (Guadalajara) was examined by serological screening. This is the first such study in this rural area, where people often live and work in proximity to domestic and wild animals. Immunofluorescent analyses of the serum of 100 forestry workers detected IgG antibodies to LCMV in 2% (CL 95% 0.55%-7.0%) of this population, to hantaviruses in 4% (CL 95% 1.6%-8.3%) for the serum amyloid A (SAA) serotype, and 2% (CL 95% 0.55%-7.0%) for the Seoul virus (SEO) serotype (samples also positive for SAA), to in 8% (CL 95% 4.1%-15%) (3% (CL 95% 1.0%-8.5%) for and 5% (CL 95% 2.2%-11.2%) for , and to in 7% (CL 95% 3.4%-13.8%). The number of people who have been exposed to these organisms is commonly underestimated since most infections are asymptomatic. Greater epidemiological surveillance may therefore be recommended.