Human-rodent contact and infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis and Seoul viruses in an inner-city population

• Published in: The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene Vol. 44; no. 2; p. 117
• Main Authors: Childs, J E, Glass, G E, Ksiazek, T G, Rossi, C A, Oro, J G, Leduc, J W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-02-1991
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Animals; Antibodies, Viral - blood; Baltimore - epidemiology; Continental Population Groups; Ethnic Groups; Female; Hantavirus - immunology; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome - epidemiology; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome - transmission; Humans; Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis - epidemiology; Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis - transmission; Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus - immunology; Male; Mice; Muridae; Prevalence; Rats; Surveys and Questionnaires; Urban Population; Baltimore
• ISSN: 0002-9637
• DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.1991.44.117

We collected 1180 sera and 1363 questionnaires with information on demography, rodent exposure, and history of travel from persons visiting a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic in Baltimore between 1986-1988. Serological tests for two rodent-borne viruses detected antibodies to lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) in 54 individuals (4.7%; n = 1149) and antibodies to Seoul virus (SEOV) in three persons (0.25%; n = 1180). Antibody prevalence to LCMV increased with age, but there were no racial or sexual differences. Neutralization tests and questionnaire responses implicated a domestic, rat-borne hantavirus as the source of SEOV antibody. Self-reported human-rodent contact indicated more exposure to house mice than rats within residences, although rats were more commonly sighted on streets. Infections with rodent-borne viruses were rare compared to the high rates of reported contact.