Transmission of an arenavirus in white-throated woodrats (Neotoma albigula), southeastern Colorado, 1995-1999

From 1995 to 1999, we conducted longitudinal studies of white- throated woodrats (Neotoma albigula) in southeastern Colorado. Forty-five (42.9%) of 105 female and 15 (26.8%) of 56 male N. albigula had antibodies against Whitewater Arroyo virus (WWAV). Sixteen female and three male N. albigula seroco...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Emerging infectious diseases 2001-05, Vol.7 (3), p.397-402
Main Authors: Calisher, C H, Nabity, S, Root, J J, Fulhorst, C F, Beaty, B J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Antibodies, Viral - blood
antibody
arenavirus
Arenavirus - isolation & purification
Arenaviruses
Colorado
Disease transmission
Female
Health aspects
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Neotoma albigula
Sigmodontinae - virology
Time Factors
transmission
Whitewater Arroyo virus
Wood rats
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Summary:From 1995 to 1999, we conducted longitudinal studies of white- throated woodrats (Neotoma albigula) in southeastern Colorado. Forty-five (42.9%) of 105 female and 15 (26.8%) of 56 male N. albigula had antibodies against Whitewater Arroyo virus (WWAV). Sixteen female and three male N. albigula seroconverted during the study period, most of them during July-November, when population densities are highest. Analyses of longevity data, minimum numbers alive and infected, movements, and weight data suggest that the dominant mode of WWAV transmission among white-throated woodrats in Colorado is direct contact. WWAV was recently reported to cause fatal infection in humans. Our findings will lead to better assessment of the public health threat posed by infected woodrats and may be useful in predicting periods of increased risk for human infection.
ISSN:1080-6040
1080-6059
DOI:10.3201/eid0703.017305