title: Exposure to rodents and rodent-borne viruses among persons with elevated occupational risk.
abstract: Persons who have frequent contact with rodents as part of their occupation may be at increased risk of exposure to rodent-borne viruses such as Sin Nombre virus (SNV), the agent of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, and Whitewater Arroyo virus (WWA), a New World arenavirus. Eighty-one persons with possible occupational exposure to rodents completed questionnaires and provided specimens for serologic testing. Seventy-two participants reported handling rodents as part of their job. The mean total number of rodents handled during participants' careers was approximately 2200. IgG antibody to lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus was detected in serum from one (1.2%) participant. IgG antibody to SNV, WWA, and Amapari viruses was not detected in any of the serum specimens. Despite considerable exposure to rodents, participants did not have significant serological evidence of exposure to rodent-borne viruses.
authors.affiliation: California Department of Health Services, Division of Communicable Disease Control, P.O. Box 942732, MS 486, Sacramento, CA 94234-7320, USA. cfritz@dhs.ca.gov
authors.forename: Curtis L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Fritz
authors.forename: Charles F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Fulhorst
authors.forename: Barryett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Enge
authors.forename: Kevin L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Winthrop
authors.forename: Carol A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Glaser
authors.forename: Duc J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Vugia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D018050:Arenavirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006476:Orthohantavirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018804:Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016272:Occupational Health; D009790:Occupations; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012377:Rodentia / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral