Sin nombre virus antibody prevalence in rodents of north-central New Mexico

From 1993 to 1998, thr Biology Team at Los Alamos National Laboratory surve yed small mammal populations in north-central New Mexico using live capture -recapture methods to determine hantavirus seroprevalences. Deer mire (Pero myscus maniculatus), western harvest mice (Reithrodontomys megalotis), whit e-footed mice (II leucopus), and voles (Microtus sp.) tested positive for h antavirus. We observed a decreasing trend in seroprevalence of deer mice fr om 1993 to 1995-1996 but an increasing trend in seroprevalence rates ill vo les. Seroprevalences and deer mouse density were not correlated and varied substantially at sampling locations, therefore microhabitat (i.e., cover, f ood availability) should be more closely examined as to its relationship wi th hantavirus in rodent populations.