title: Serological survey of rodent-borne viruses in Finnish field voles.
abstract: In northern Europe, rodent populations display cyclic density fluctuations that can be correlated with the human incidence of zoonotic diseases they spread. During density peaks, field voles (Microtus agrestis) become one of the most abundant rodent species in northern Europe, yet little is known of the viruses they host. We screened 709 field voles, trapped from 14 sites over 3 years, for antibodies against four rodent-borne, potentially zoonotic viruses or virus groups-hantaviruses, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), Ljungan virus (LV), and orthopoxviruses (OPV). Antibodies against all four viruses were detected. However, seroprevalence of hantaviruses, LV, and LCMV was low. OPV antibodies (most likely cowpox) were more common but restricted geographically to southeastern Finland. Within these sites, antibody prevalence showed delayed density dependence in spring and direct density dependence in fall. Higher seroprevalence was found in spring than fall. These results substantially increase knowledge of the presence and distribution of viruses of field voles in Finland, as well as CPXV infection dynamics.
authors.affiliation: 1 Suonenjoki Research Unit, Finnish Forest Research Institute , Suonenjoki, Finland .
authors.forename: Kristian M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Forbes
authors.forename: Liina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Voutilainen
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jääskeläinen
authors.forename: Tarja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sironen
authors.forename: Paula M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Kinnunen
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stuart
authors.forename: Olli
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vapalahti
authors.forename: Heikki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Henttonen
authors.forename: Otso
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Huitu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D003411:Arvicolinae / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006476:Orthohantavirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018778:Hantavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008216:Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D008217:Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D018155:Orthopoxvirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D030061:Parechovirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010850:Picornaviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D011213:Poxviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D012621:Seasons; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D015047:Zoonoses
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral