ARARAQUARA HANTAVIRUS IN NECROMYS LASIURUS CAPTURED ON THE CAMPUS OF THE UNIVERSIDADE DE SÃO PAULO IN RIBEIRÃO PRETO, SP, BRAZIL

Abstract

Hantavirus is a genus including dozens of genotypes in the Bunyaviridae family. Human infection by Hantavirus occurs mainly from inhalation of aerosols from the droppings of infected wild rodents. American Hantaviruses produce a severe cardiopulmonary syndrome with a high fatality rate. The objective of this study was to identify rodents infected with Hantavirus on the campus of the Universidade de São Paulo in the municipality of Ribeirão Preto. A routine rodent trapping with 45 Sherman traps was performed; 15 rodents were captured and identified, using classic taxonomic classification. About 2/3 of the captured rodents were Necromys lasiurus. Three blood samples of N. lasiurus were IgG positive to Hantavirus in ELISA. The Hantavirus partial S and M gene sequences were recovered from the blood of one N. lasiurus and the phylogenetic analysis of nucleotide sequences showed that this rodent was infected with Araraquara Hantavirus. The presence of N. lasiurus infected with Hantavirus on the campus of the Universidade de São Paulo is a frightening problem. Measures for prevention of human infections by Hantavirus should be implemented on the campus, based on: reducing rodent shelter and food sources in and around buildings, standard sanitary precautions while rodent-contaminated areas are being cleaned up, and preventive measures, such as biosafety masks, for persons who have occupational exposure to wild rodents. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17525/vrr.v16i1-2.53