[Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome: current situation among rodent reservoirs and human population in the 10th region, Chile].
BACKGROUND
In Chile, three Hantavirus seropositive rodent species (O longicaudatus, A olivaceus and A longipilis) are distributed from the Pacific coast to the Andes mountains and represent nearly 90% of the rodents captured in the Xth Region.


OBJECTIVE
To study the seroprevalence of Hantavirus among captured rodent species and its relationship with the appearance of human cases of pulmonary syndrome.


METHODS
From May 1998 to September 2001, 675 rodents were captured in the region. Serum samples were tested by ELISA for the presence of IgG antibodies against Andes and Sin Nombre virus. Sera from human cases with a suspected Hantavirus infection were analyzed for IgM antibodies against Black Lagoon virus and for IgG antibodies against Andes and Sin Nombre virus.


RESULTS
Twenty two of the 675 rodents were seropositive for the virus, 18 O longicaudatus and 4 A longipilis. Regional seroprevalence changed from 2.2% in 1998, 0.0% in 1999, 1.0% in 2000 and up to 7.1% in 2001. A total of 77 positive human cases were studied from 1998 to March 2002. Although there were positive cases in all seasons, data showed a spring-summer seasonal preponderance. A relationship between the flowering of "colihue" bushes and the increased values of rodent abundance, seroprevalence and positive animals was established.


CONCLUSIONS
A dispersal movement of O longicaudatus to open habitats close to human outdoor activities during the dry season was confirmed.
Murúa
Roberto
R
Convenio Reservorio Hantavirus, Universidad Austral de Chile y Servicio de Salud de Valdivia. rmurua@uach.cl
Navarrete
Maritza
M
Cádiz
Rodrigo
R
Figueroa
Rodolfo
R
Padula
Paula
P
Zaror
Luis
L
Mansilla
Rita
R
González
Luz
L
Muñoz-Pedreros
Andrés
A
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D017753:Ecosystem; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006476:Orthohantavirus / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D018804:Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D012377:Rodentia; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014505:Urban Population
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G
Síndrome pulmonar por Hantavirus: situación de los roedores reservorios y la población humana en la Décima región, Chile.