Orthohantavirus infection in two rodent species that inhabit wetlands in Argentina

MAROLI, MALENA; BELLOMO, CARLA; COELHO, ROCIO; MARTINEZ, PAULA VALERIA; PIÑA, CARLOS; GÓMEZ VILLAFAÑE, ISABEL

ECOHEALTH

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2023

1612-9202

Orthohantavirus infection in two rodent species that inhabit wetlands in ArgentinaAbstractPrevious research carried out in central-east region of Argentina, recorded potential orthohantavirus host rodents in diverse environments, but infected rodents were particularly present on some Paraná wetlands islands, an endemic zone of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome. The aims of this research were to determine the orthohantavirus host in the rodent community focused on islands of Paraná River Delta, central-east region of Argentina, to identify temporal and spatial factors associated with orthohantavirus prevalence variations, to compare the individual characteristics of seropositive and seronegative rodents and, to explore the association between orthohantavirus prevalence and rodent community characteristics between August 2014 and May 2018. The 14.9% of Oligoryzomys flavescens and 1.5% of Oxymycterus rufus, mainly reproductively active adult males, had antibodies against orthohantavirus. Even though O. flavescens inhabit all islands, the results suggest spatial heterogeneity in the viral distribution. We found that two months later of periods with low temperature, seroprevalence increased probably due to a higher proportion of adults in the population. Additionally, higher seroprevalence was associated with greater diversity of the rodent assemblage. This association be taking place by means of a potential secondary host as O. rufus, a novelty for this species and for the region.