TY - JOUR T1 - Association between habitat and prevalence of hantavirus infections in bank voles (Myodes glareolus) and wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus). JF - Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis Y1 - 2009 A1 - Heyman, Paul A1 - Rita Van Mele A1 - Lejla Smajlovic A1 - Alexandre Dobly A1 - Cochez, Christel A1 - Christian Vandenvelde KW - Animals KW - Antibodies, Viral KW - Arvicolinae KW - Belgium KW - Disease Outbreaks KW - Disease Reservoirs KW - Ecosystem KW - Female KW - Hantavirus Infections KW - Male KW - mice KW - Murinae KW - Population Density KW - prevalence KW - Rodent Diseases AB -

In order to determine the habitat preferred by Myodes (before Clethrionomys) glareolus and the corresponding Puumala hantavirus seroprevalence in those habitats, we captured rodents simultaneously in three significantly different habitats. We compared trapping success and presence of virus per habitat during an ongoing epidemic in order to test the hypothesis of a density-dependent seroprevalence. Our study showed that bank vole population density, as well as Puumala virus seroprevalence, were habitat dependent. Apodemus sylvaticus was found more vulnerable for deteriorating habitat conditions than M. glareolus and could play a role as vehicle for Puumala virus and as mediator for inter- and conspecific virus transmission.

VL - 9 CP - 2 M3 - 10.1089/vbz.2007.0155 ER -