@article {Ferrer:1 April 2003:0003-4983:269,
author = "Ferrer J.F.",
author = "Galligan D.",
author = "Esteban E.",
author = "Rey V.",
author = "Murua A.",
author = "Gutierrez S.",
author = "Gonzalez L.",
author = "Thakuri M.",
author = "Feldman L.",
author = "Poiesz B.",
author = "Jonsson C.",
title = "Hantavirus infection in people inhabiting a highly endemic region of the Gran Chaco territory, Paraguay: association with Trypanosoma cruzi infection, epidemiological features and haematological characteristics",
journal = "Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology",
volume = "97",
year = "1 April 2003",
abstract = "The seroprevalences of anti-hantavirus antibodies were determined in 712 individuals (551 Indians, 140 Mennonites of German ancestry, and 21 Paraguayans of Spanish ancestry) inhabiting a region of western Paraguay in the Gran Chaco territory of South America. The overall seroprevalence of hantavirus infection among the 712 subjects, who were aged 2-80 years, was 42.7% (45.2% in the Indians and 34.2% in the non-Indians). Of the 672 subjects also checked for antibodies against Trypanosoma cruzi, 226 (33.6%) were seropositive for this protozoan parasite. The results of a multivariate regression analysis indicated that, after adjusting for age, sex, setting of residence (rural/urban) and infection with the human T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma virus type II (HTLV-II), a T. cruzi-seropositive individual was 1.73 times more likely to be hantavirus seropositive than a T. cruzi-seronegative individual. Living in a rural setting increased the risk of being hantavirus seropositive 2.17-fold. In both the Indians and non-Indian subpopulations, hantavirus seroprevalence increased with age in both sexes, but only in the non-Indian supopulation was this increase significantly greater in males than in females. Hantavirus seropositivity was significantly associated with thrombocytosis, even after adjusting for the relevant confounders.",
pages = "269-280(12)",
url = "http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/maney/atmp/2003/00000097/00000003/art00006"
doi = "doi:10.1179/000349803235001903"
}