Padda Hannah, Huang Claire Y-H, Grimm Kacie, Biggerstaff Brad J, Ledermann Jeremy P, Raetz Janae, Boroughs Karen, Mossel Eric C, Martin Stacey W, Lehman Jennifer A, Townsend Rebecca L, Krysztof David, Saá Paula, Dinh Emily T N, Stobierski Mary Grace, Esponda-Morrison Brenda, Wolujewicz Karen Ann A, Osborne Matthew, Brown Catherine M, Hopkins Brandi, Schiffman Elizabeth K, Garvin Alex, Lee Xia, Osborn Rebecca A, Wozniak Ryan J, Brault Aaron C, Basavaraju Sridhar V, Stramer Susan L, Staples J Erin, Gould Carolyn V
Emerg Infect Dis. 2025 May;31(5):929-936. doi: 10.3201/eid3105.240893.
Powassan virus (POWV) and Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) are regionally endemic arboviruses in the United States that can cause neuroinvasive disease and death. Recent identification of EEEV transmission through organ transplantation and POWV transmission through blood transfusion have increased concerns about infection risk. After historically high numbers of cases of both viruses were reported in 2019, we conducted a seroprevalence survey using blood donation samples from selected endemic counties. Specimens were screened for virus-specific neutralizing antibodies, and population seroprevalence was estimated using weights calibrated to county population census data. For POWV, median county seroprevalence in 4 states was 0.84%, ranging from 0% (95% CI 0%-2.28%) to 11.5% (95% CI 0.82%-40.9%). EEEV infection was identified in a single county (estimated seroprevalence 1.62% [95% CI 0.04%-8.75%]). Although seroprevalence estimates in sampled areas were generally low, additional investigation of higher-prevalence areas could inform risk for transmission from asymptomatic blood and organ donors.
波瓦桑病毒（POWV）和东部马脑炎病毒（EEEV）是美国的地方性虫媒病毒，可导致神经侵袭性疾病和死亡。近期发现EEEV可通过器官移植传播，POWV可通过输血传播，这增加了人们对感染风险的担忧。在2019年报告了这两种病毒的病例数创历史新高之后，我们使用选定流行县的献血样本进行了血清流行率调查。对样本进行病毒特异性中和抗体筛查，并使用根据县人口普查数据校准的权重估计人群血清流行率。对于POWV，4个州的县血清流行率中位数为0.84%，范围从0%（95%CI 0%-2.28%）到11.5%（95%CI 0.82%-40.9%）。在一个县发现了EEEV感染（估计血清流行率为1.62%[95%CI 0.04%-8.75%]）。尽管采样地区的血清流行率估计总体较低，但对高流行率地区进行进一步调查可能有助于了解无症状血液和器官捐献者的传播风险。
