[First serological evidence of Hantavirus infection in rodents in Colombia].
OBJECTIVE
Determining Hantavirus infection prevalence in rodents in the C6rdoba department, Colombia.


METHODS
Rodents were captured using Sherman live-capture traps (8 x 9 x 23 cm; Sherman Traps, Inc., Tallahassee, FL) in peridomestic areas of Córdoba. Hantavirus IgG antibodies were detected by ELISA using Sin Nombre virus (SNV) recombinant nucleocapsid antigen (CDC, Atlanta, Georgia, USA).


RESULTS
336 rodents were captured in 11 townships in the Córdoba department (Murinae: 249; Sigmodontinae: 68; Heteromyidae: 17; Echimyidae: 2; 8.5% overall trap success) during 79 nights of trapping between January 2003 and November 2004. Hantavirus antibody seroprevalence was 2.1% (7 out of 336 captures). Prevalence by genus varied between 5.9% (1 out of 17 Heteromys) to 50% (1 out of 2 Proechimys).


CONCLUSIONS
SNV-reactive antibody prevalence in rodents in Córdoba, Colombia, indicated that at least one hantavirus is endemic in rodents in northern Colombia and is frequently transmitted to rural residents.
Alemán
Ader
A
Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad de Córdoba, Columbia. Aderlaing@yahoo.com
Iguarán
Haydeé
H
Puerta
Henry
H
Cantillo
César
C
Mills
James
J
Ariz
William
W
Mattar
Salim
S
D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000821:virology; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006476:Orthohantavirus / Q000276:immunology*; D018778:Hantavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D051381:Rats; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D012423:Rural Health; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D016205:Sigmodontinae / Q000097:blood* / Q000821:virology; D014504:Urban Health
D000914:Antibodies, Viral