Seroconversion to Japanese Encephalitis Virus Among U.S. Infantry Forces in Korea

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is endemic in the Republic of Korea (ROK), posing a medical threat to more than 29,000 U.S. Forces military personnel currently deployed in the ROK. The objective of this study was to provide data on the risk of JEV exposure among U.S. Forces in the ROK. One thousan...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene 2015-11, Vol.93 (5), p.1052-1054
Main Authors: Eick-Cost, Angelia A, Hu, Zheng, Klein, Terry A, Putnak, Robert J, Jarman, Richard G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Animals
Antibodies, Viral - blood
Cohort Studies
Encephalitis Virus, Japanese - immunology
Encephalitis, Japanese - epidemiology
Encephalitis, Japanese - immunology
Humans
Japanese encephalitis virus
Male
Middle Aged
Military Personnel - statistics & numerical data
Neutralization Tests
Republic of Korea - epidemiology
Seroconversion
United States
Young Adult
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Summary:Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is endemic in the Republic of Korea (ROK), posing a medical threat to more than 29,000 U.S. Forces military personnel currently deployed in the ROK. The objective of this study was to provide data on the risk of JEV exposure among U.S. Forces in the ROK. One thousand U.S. Army Soldiers were randomly selected for the study from the cohort of infantry Soldiers deployed in the ROK for a period of at least 330 days from 2008 to 2011. Pre- and post-deployment serum specimens were tested for the presence of JEV antibodies by plaque reduction neutralization test. A total of 2/1,000 (0.2%) U.S. Army Soldiers post-deployment specimens tested positive for JEV antibody. Results from the pre-deployment specimens indicated one true seroconversion and one with titers suggestive of a JEV infection. These results indicate a low, but nonzero risk of JEV exposure among U.S. Army Soldiers in the ROK.
ISSN:0002-9637
1476-1645
DOI:10.4269/ajtmh.15-0307