Sudden increase in seroprevalence of Dobrava-Belgrade virus (DOBV) in the province of Trento, Italy

Dobrava-­Belgrade virus (DOBV)is considered the most pathogenic of hantaviruses in Europe, causing HFSR with case fatality rate up to 12%. The first DOBV strain was isolated from lungs of A. flavicollis mice captured in Slovenia, southeast Europe, and now represents the prototype DOBV strain (named Slovenia, or Slo/Af) from A. flavicollis. The spatial and temporal distribution of hantaviruses has been monitored in Trentino region ( northern Italy) since the year 2000 by performing seroprevalence studies in rodents and humans with IFAT. An intense long term serological monitoring of a population of Apodemus flavicollis has been carried out. During the period 2000 – 2008 the antibody seroprevalence of DOBV varied from 0% to 1.4% . From the year 2010 onwards a sudden increase has been registered: 3,8% in 2010, 3% in 2011 and 7,7% in 2012. Possible drivers affecting changes in DOBV seroprevalence in this rodent population will be discusse