Serological evidence for zoonotic hantaviruses in North Carolina rodents.
In a survey of seven species of wild rodents (n = 423) collected between October 1993 and March 1994 from the three principal ecological biomes of North Carolina (USA), we found hantavirus antibodies in seven (2%) of 301 Peromyscus spp. Hantavirus antibodies were detected in P. leucopus and P. maniculatus captured from mountain and coastal island biomes. Three mice were positive for Sin Nombre virus, while four others had antibodies to Seoul virus or a related agent. Two mice serologically positive for Sin Nombre virus were collected from inside a private mountain domicile. We conclude that the risk of human exposure to hantaviruses in North Carolina resembles that for most other areas of the continental United States.
Weigler
B J
BJ
Department of Companion Animal and Special Species Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleign 27606, USA.
Ksiazek
T G
TG
Vandenbergh
J G
JG
Levin
M
M
Sullivan
W T
WT
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006476:Orthohantavirus / Q000276:immunology*; D018778:Hantavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D010542:Peromyscus; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D015047:Zoonoses
D000914:Antibodies, Viral