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Hantavirus and arenavirus antibody prevalence in rodents and humans in Trentino, Northern Italy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 November 2005

H. KALLIO-KOKKO
Affiliation:
Department of Virology, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Finland Department of Virology, HUSLAB, The Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa
J. LAAKKONEN
Affiliation:
Department of Virology, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Finland Finnish Forest Research Institute, Vantaa, Finland
A. RIZZOLI
Affiliation:
Centre for Alpine Ecology, Trento, Italy
V. TAGLIAPIETRA
Affiliation:
Centre for Alpine Ecology, Trento, Italy
I. CATTADORI
Affiliation:
University of Stirling, Scotland, UK
S. E. PERKINS
Affiliation:
University of Stirling, Scotland, UK
P. J. HUDSON
Affiliation:
University of Stirling, Scotland, UK
A. CRISTOFOLINI
Affiliation:
Occupational Medicine Unit, Trentino Health Administration (APSS), Trento, Italy
W. VERSINI
Affiliation:
Occupational Medicine Unit, Trentino Health Administration (APSS), Trento, Italy
O. VAPALAHTI
Affiliation:
Department of Virology, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Finland Department of Virology, HUSLAB, The Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa Division of Microbiology, Department of Basic Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland
A. VAHERI
Affiliation:
Department of Virology, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Finland Department of Virology, HUSLAB, The Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa
H. HENTTONEN
Affiliation:
Finnish Forest Research Institute, Vantaa, Finland
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Abstract

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The spatial and temporal distribution of hantavirus and arenavirus antibody-positive wild rodents in Trentino, Italy, was studied using immunofluorescence assays (IFA) in two long-term sites trapped in 2000–2003, and six other sites trapped in 2002. The overall hantavirus seroprevalence in the bank voles, Clethrionomys glareolus (n=229) screened for Puumala virus (PUUV) antibodies was 0·4%, and that for Apodemus flavicollis mice (n=1416) screened for Dobrava virus (DOBV) antibodies was 0·2%. Antibodies against lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) were found in 82 (5·6%) of the 1472 tested rodents; the seroprevalence being 6·1% in A. flavicollis (n=1181), 3·3% in C. glareolus (n=276), and 14·3% in Microtus arvalis (n=7). Of the serum samples of 488 forestry workers studied by IFA, 12 were LCMV-IgG positive (2·5%) and one DOBV-IgG positive (0·2%), however, the latter could not be confirmed DOBV-specific with a neutralization assay. Our results show a widespread distribution but low prevalence of DOBV in Trentino, and demonstrate that the arenavirus antibodies are a common finding in several other rodent species besides the house mouse.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2005 Cambridge University Press