Science

Hantavirus in Missouri Rodents
Kelly A. Pierce
Dr. Scott Burt, Dr. Steven Carroll, and Dr. Michael Lockhart, Faculty Mentors

Missouri populations of Peromyscus leucopus are known hantavirus reservoirs, but a baseline seroprevalence has been difficult to establish. Hantavirus was first found in Adair County populations of P. leucopus in 1999. In 2003 a seroprevalence of 10% was found in P. leucopus populations while a 2004 study found only one rodent with hantavirus antibodies. Additional research conducted during the summer of 2006 with funding from Truman State University yielded 25 P. leucopus captures, of which 3 tested positive for hantavirus antibodies. Two other potential hantavirus reservoir species, P. maniculatus and Sigmodon hispidus, were captured but were not found to have hantavirus antibodies. Two seropositive P. leucopus came from Big Creek Conservation Area; the third came from Sugar Creek Conservation Area. The trapping sites at these conservation areas represented agricultural land use, adding additional evidence to the hypothesis that habitat disturbance correlates positively with hantavirus seroprevalence.

Keywords: hantavirus, seroprevalence, reservoir species

Topic(s):Biology

Presentation Type: Oral Paper

Session: 46-2
Location: VH 1408
Time: 1:30 pm

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