SHORT REPORT - DECREASE IN SEROPREVALENCE OF ANTIBODIES TO HANTAVIRUSIN RODENTS FROM 1993-1994 HANTAVIRUS PULMONARY SYNDROME CASE SITES

Rodent trapping was conducted at seven hantavirus pulmonary syndrome ( HPS) case sites from June 1993 to March 1994 during the HPS outbreak i n the southwestern United States. To determine if there were changes i n the rodent population or the hantavirus seroprevalence in rodents si nce the HPS outbreak, rodents were trapped at the same sites three yea rs later using the same trapping protocol. The trap success decreased from the numbers trapped during the outbreak, however, the number of P eromyscus, as a percentage of the total rodents captured, did not noti ceably decrease. In addition, the seroprevalence of hantavirus antibod ies in Peromyscus decreased significantly (P < 0.0001).