Geographical distribution of rodent-associated hantaviruses in Texas

The purpose of this study was to increase our knowledge of the geographic d istribution and natural host range of hantaviruses in Texas, southeastern N ew Mexico, and Mexico. Blood samples from 3,225 wild rodents, representing 34 species, were tested for hantavirus antibody (IgG), using an enzyme-link ed immunosorbent assay. Hantavirus antibody was found in one or more rodent s from each of 13 counties in Texas, Otero County in southeastern New Mexic o, and Mexico State (central Mexico). The 133 antibody-positive rodents inc luded seven Peromyscus species (P. attwateri, P. boylii, P. hylocetes, P. l eucopus, P. maniculatis, P. melanotis, and P. pectoralis), Sigmodon hispidu s, Oryzomys palustris, two Reithrodontomys species (R. fulvescens and R. me galotis), Neotoma albigula, and Perognathus merriami. This study provides f urther evidence that rodent-associated hantaviruses are geographically wide ly distributed in Texas. The discovery of antibody in P. hylocetes and P. m elanotis is evidence that peromyscine rodents in Mexico are naturally assoc iated with viruses belonging to the genus Hantavirus.