1. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and rodent reservoirs in the savanna-like biome of Brazil's southeastern region.
- Author
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Limongi JE, Oliveira RC, Guterres A, Costa Neto SF, Fernandes J, Vicente LH, Coelho MG, Ramos VN, Ferreira MS, Bonvicino CR, D'Andrea PS, and Lemos ER
- Subjects
- Adult, Animals, Brazil epidemiology, Female, Genotype, Grassland, Orthohantavirus genetics, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome epidemiology, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome virology, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Molecular Sequence Data, Phylogeny, Population Dynamics, Prevalence, Rodent Diseases virology, Sequence Analysis, DNA, Seroepidemiologic Studies, Viral Proteins genetics, Viral Proteins metabolism, Young Adult, Disease Reservoirs veterinary, Orthohantavirus physiology, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome veterinary, Rodent Diseases epidemiology, Rodentia physiology
- Abstract
This paper describes the diversity of rodent fauna in an area endemic for hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) in Brazil, the population dynamics and the relationship of rodents with hantavirus in the Cerrado (savanna-like) biome. Additionally, an analysis is made of the partial S segment sequences of the hantaviruses obtained from serologically confirmed human HCPS cases and from rodent specimens. Rodents were collected during four campaigns. Human serum samples were collected from suspected cases of HCPS at hospitals in the state of Minas Gerais. The samples antibody-reactive by ELISA were processed by RT-PCR. The PCR product was amplified and sequenced. Hantavirus was detected only in Necromys lasiurus, the wild rodent species most prevalent in the Cerrado biome (min-max: 50-83·7%). All the six human serum samples were hantavirus seropositive and five showed amplified PCR products. The analysis of the nucleotide sequences showed the circulation of a single genotype, the Araraquara hantavirus. The environmental changes that have occurred in the Cerrado biome in recent decades have favoured N. lasiurus in interspecific competition of habitats, thus increasing the risk of contact between humans and rodent species infected with hantavirus. Our data corroborate the definition of N. lasiurus as the main hantavirus reservoir in the Cerrado biome.
- Published
- 2016
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