Hantavirus and arenavirus antibodies in persons with occupational rodent exposure.
Rodents are the principal hosts of Sin Nombre virus, 4 other hantaviruses known to cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in North America, and the 3 North American arenaviruses. Serum samples from 757 persons who had worked with rodents in North America and handled neotomine or sigmodontine rodents were tested for antibodies against Sin Nombre virus, Whitewater Arroyo virus, Guanarito virus, and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. Antibodies against Sin Nombre virus were found in 4 persons, against Whitewater Arroyo virus or Guanarito virus in 2 persons, and against lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus in none. These results suggest that risk for infection with hantaviruses or arenaviruses usually is low in persons whose occupations entail close physical contact with neotomine or sigmodontine rodents in North America.
Fulhorst
Charles F
CF
University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555-0609, USA. cfulhors@utmb.edu
Milazzo
Mary Louise
ML
Armstrong
Lori R
LR
Childs
James E
JE
Rollin
Pierre E
PE
Khabbaz
Rima
R
Peters
C J
CJ
Ksiazek
Thomas G
TG
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D018050:Arenavirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006476:Orthohantavirus / Q000276:immunology*; D018804:Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009656:North America / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016272:Occupational Health; D009790:Occupations; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016205:Sigmodontinae / Q000821:virology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000914:Antibodies, Viral