Given the devastating complications, serious fetal abnormalities and autoimmune peripheral polyneuropathy caused by Zika virus infection (ZKV), this was declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) global health emergency.ZKV infection vector are mainly mosquitoes of the genus Aedes. In addition to the well-known Aedes Aegypti frequent in equatorial and sub-equatorial regions also the most common, and present at our latitudes, Aedes Albopticus has been identified as a cause of ZKV transmission.
This study was conducted in the period August-November 2016 on a population of healthy Austrian donors aged 18-65 who in the eight months prior to inclusion had travelled to European and non-European countries, endemic to the presence of the Aedes Albopticus and therefore could be accidentally infected by ZKV.Serological and biomolecular investigations were carried out on 1001 subjects. Information was also collected on possible vaccinations for TBE virus, yellow fever and Japanese encephalitis virus.Three donors were positive for IgM antibody, while one for IgG.
No subject, however, was positive for a subsequent direct viral search.From the study, it emerged that despite the fact that Aedes Albopictus is a widespread mosquito in the regions of Southern Europe (Italy, Greece, Croatia), and despite being believed to be the vector of ZKV infection, the lack of donor results infected with serological and molecular investigations do not seem to highlight a priority for European countries to implement examinations to detect prematurely the presence of this virus
PLoS One. 2017 May 24;12(5):e0178175
No molecular or serological evidence of Zikavirus infection among healthy blood donors living in or travelling to regions where Aedes albopictus circulates
Borena W, Hofer T, Stiasny K, Aberle SW, Gaber M, von Laer D, Schennach H