Diversity and distribution of host animal species of hantavirus and risk to human health in Jiuhua mountain area, China.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the diversity and the distribution of host animal species of hantavirus and the effect on human health in Jiuhua Mountain area, China.


METHODS
The host animal species of hantavirus was surveyed by using the trap method and the species diversity was evaluated by using the Simpson, Shannon-Weaner, and Pielou indices. Hantavirus antigens or antibodies in lung and blood samples of all the captured host animals were detected by direct or indirect immunofluorescence.


RESULTS
Nine animal species of hantavirus were distributed in the forest ecosystem of Jiuhua Mountain. Of these, Niviventer confucianus and Apodemus agrarius were predominant, and N. confucianus, Rattus norvegicus, and Mus musculus had relatively large niche breadth index values. The host animals in the eastern and western mountain regions shared similar biodiversity index characteristics, predominant species, and species structures. Hantavirus was detected in 5 host animal species in Jiuhua Mountain area, the carriage rate of hantavirus was 6.03%. The average density of host animals in forest areas of the mountainous area was only 2.20%, and the virus infection rate in the healthy population was 2.33%.


CONCLUSIONS
The circulation of hantavirus was low in the forest areas of Jiuhua Mountain and did not pose a threat to human health.
College of Resource & Environment of Anhui Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Agri-food Safety of Anhui Province, Hefei 230036, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hefei 230036, Anhui, China.
Xing Qiang
XQ
Hu
College of Plant Protection, Anhui Agriculture University, Hefei 230036, Anhui, China.
Shi Guang
SG
Li
Anhui Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hefei 230036, Anhui, China.
Hong
H
Liu
Anhui Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hefei 230036, Anhui, China.
Jun
J
Wang
College of Resource & Environment of Anhui Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Agri-food Safety of Anhui Province, Hefei 230036, Anhui, China.
Ri Mao
RM
Hua
D000328:Adult; D000531:Altitude; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004199:Disease Vectors; D006476:Orthohantavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018778:Hantavirus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008168:Lung / Q000821:virology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011156:Population Density; D012306:Risk; D012377:Rodentia / Q000821:virology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G
Diversity and distribution; Hantavirus; Host animal; Jiuhua Mountain; Risk assessment