Human-rodent contact and infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis and Seoul viruses in an inner-city population.
We collected 1180 sera and 1363 questionnaires with information on demography, rodent exposure, and history of travel from persons visiting a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic in Baltimore between 1986-1988. Serological tests for two rodent-borne viruses detected antibodies to lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) in 54 individuals (4.7%; n = 1149) and antibodies to Seoul virus (SEOV) in three persons (0.25%; n = 1180). Antibody prevalence to LCMV increased with age, but there were no racial or sexual differences. Neutralization tests and questionnaire responses implicated a domestic, rat-borne hantavirus as the source of SEOV antibody. Self-reported human-rodent contact indicated more exposure to house mice than rats within residences, although rats were more commonly sighted on streets. Infections with rodent-borne viruses were rare compared to the high rates of reported contact.
Childs
J E
JE
Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland.
Glass
G E
GE
Ksiazek
T G
TG
Rossi
C A
CA
Oro
J G
JG
Leduc
J W
JW
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D015142:Baltimore / Q000453:epidemiology; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006476:Orthohantavirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006480:Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008216:Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D008217:Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009115:Muridae; D015995:Prevalence; D044469:Racial Groups; D051381:Rats; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population
D000914:Antibodies, Viral