CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome in Argentina is caused by hantaviruses associated with wild rodents species of the genus Oligoryzomys. Due to the presence of wild rodents and the constant tourist visits, National Parks (NP) are areas where the human-rodent contact is probable. The aim of this research was to study the abundance, composition and hantavirus seroprevalence of the rodent community in El Palmar NP, Pre Delta NP and neighbouring islands. From April 2007 to March 2009 we carried 11 trapping sessions in different floristic environments, 8 of them in El Palmar NP and the other 3 in Pre Delta NP and neighbouring islands. All captured individuals were anaesthetised, sexed, measured, and a blood sample was collected to determine the presence of hantavirus antibodies. In El Palmar NP we captured a total of 105 rodents: Oligoryzomys nigripes (43), Calomys callidus (34), Akodon azarae (19) and Oxymycterus rufus (9) with a trapping effort of 6195 traps-night. In Pre Delta NP we captured a total of 131 rodents: Oligoryzomys flavescens (82), Calomys callidus (23), Holochilus brasiliensis (7), Oxymycterus rufus (12) and Akodon azarae (7) with a trapping effort of 2361 traps-night. Species composition and abundance differed spatially and temporally in both National Parks. In El Palmar NP, 6 out of 43 O. nigripes present hantavirus antibodies in three of six floristic environments and the highest seroprevalence values were registered in October 2007 and March 2009. In Pre-Delta neighbour islands 8 of 82 O. flavescens tested positive and the highest prevalence was found in July 2008. Based on these results, an integrated rodent control was carried out in a restricted area and recommendations were to continue monitoring rodents through time.

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