A longitudinal study of Sin Nombre virus prevalence in rodents, southeastern Arizona

We determined the prevalence of Sin Nombre virus antibodies in small mammal s in southeastern Arizona. Of 1,234 rodents (from 13 species) captured each month from May through December 1995, only mice in the genus Peromyscus we re seropositive. Antibody prevalence was 14.3% in 21 white-footed mice (P. leucopus), 13.3% in 98 brush mice (P. boylii), 0.8% in 118 cactus mice (P, eremicus), and 0% in 2 deer mice (P. maniculatus). Most antibody-positive m ice were adult male Peromyscus captured close to one another early in the s tudy. Population dynamics of brush mice suggest a correlation between popul ation size and hantavirus-antibody prevalence.