title: Association between habitat and prevalence of hantavirus infections in bank voles (Myodes glareolus) and wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus).
abstract: In order to determine the habitat preferred by Myodes (before Clethrionomys) glareolus and the corresponding Puumala hantavirus seroprevalence in those habitats, we captured rodents simultaneously in three significantly different habitats. We compared trapping success and presence of virus per habitat during an ongoing epidemic in order to test the hypothesis of a density-dependent seroprevalence. Our study showed that bank vole population density, as well as Puumala virus seroprevalence, were habitat dependent. Apodemus sylvaticus was found more vulnerable for deteriorating habitat conditions than M. glareolus and could play a role as vehicle for Puumala virus and as mediator for inter- and conspecific virus transmission.
authors.affiliation: Research Laboratory for Vector-Borne Diseases, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Brussels, Belgium. paul.heyman@mil.be
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Heyman
authors.forename: Rita Van
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Mele
authors.forename: Lejla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Smajlovic
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dobly
authors.forename: Christel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cochez
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vandenvelde
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D003411:Arvicolinae; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000821:virology; D017753:Ecosystem; D005260:Female; D018778:Hantavirus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D051189:Murinae; D011156:Population Density; D015995:Prevalence; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral