title: Distribution and abundance of sigmodontine rodents in relation to hantavirus in Neuquén, Argentina.
abstract: In order to estimate spatial distribution, temporal variation, and prevalence of Andes hantavirus antibody in the rodent community, and especially in Oligoryzomys longicaudatus populations, four different ecosystems were trapped seasonally between spring 2001 and winter 2002 in Neuquen, northwestern Argentinean Patagonia. Five peridomestic settings were sampled within the same period. The rodent O. longicaudatus had the widest distribution in Neuquen, as it was the only species captured at every sample site except for the High Andean steppe, and it was also the most common species captured. Rodents of 13 species were tested for hantavirus antibody prevalence, but O. longicaudatus and Abrothrix longipilis were the only seropositive species. Seropositive individuals were captured during spring and summer in the Subantarctic forest and in winter 2001 in a peridomestic setting in the Patagonian steppe. The dominant presence of O. longicaudatus throughout Neuquen must be incorporated into strategies to prevent human exposure to hantavirus.
authors: Departamento de Fauna Terrestre, Centro de Ecologia Aplicada del Neuquen, Neuquén, Argentina.
authors: Luciana
authors: L
authors: Piudo
authors: Martín
authors: M
authors: Monteverde
authors: Silvana
authors: S
authors: González Capria
authors: Paula
authors: P
authors: Padula
authors: Pablo
authors: P
authors: Carmanchahi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D003710:Demography; D017753:Ecosystem; D006476:Orthohantavirus / Q000276:immunology*; D018778:Hantavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006801:Humans; D011156:Population Density; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012621:Seasons; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D016205:Sigmodontinae / Q000502:physiology* / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral