Human-Rodent Contact and Infection with Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis and SeoulViruses in an Inner-City Population

摘要

Numerous zoonoses of humans can be acquired through contact with rodents or theirectoparasites. We investigated the occurrence of human infection with two viruses known to be maintained by rodents which frequently coinhabit human residences in urban environments. The viruses were lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV; family Arenaviridae), associated with feral house mice (Mus Musculus) and pet hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) and Seoul virus (SEOV; genus Hantavirus; family Bunyaviridae), associated with feral Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) and laboratory rats. Both viruses are primarily transmitted by aerosols of contaminated rodent excreta or secreta, and both can cause significant disease in humans. Reprints