Ecology of Catarina virus (family Arenaviridae) in southern Texas, 2001-2004

Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2013 Jan;13(1):50-9. doi: 10.1089/vbz.2012.1073. Epub 2012 Dec 4.

Abstract

A total of 3941 rodents were captured during a 46-month prospective (mark-recapture) study on the ecology of Catarina virus in southern Texas. Antibody reactive against Catarina virus was found in 73 (11.9%) of 611 southern plains woodrats (Neotoma micropus) and none of 3330 other rodents; strains of Catarina virus were isolated from 6 antibody-negative and 9 antibody-positive southern plains woodrats; and the infections in at least 3 southern plains woodrats were chronic. These results affirm the notion that the southern plains woodrat is the principal host of Catarina virus and suggest that Catarina virus infection is highly specific to N. micropus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • Arenaviridae Infections / epidemiology
  • Arenaviridae Infections / veterinary*
  • Arenaviridae Infections / virology
  • Arenaviruses, New World / genetics
  • Arenaviruses, New World / immunology
  • Arenaviruses, New World / isolation & purification
  • Arenaviruses, New World / physiology*
  • Ecology
  • Host Specificity
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Phylogeny
  • Prevalence
  • Prospective Studies
  • Rain
  • Rats
  • Rodent Diseases / epidemiology
  • Rodent Diseases / virology*
  • Rodentia
  • Sigmodontinae / virology*
  • Texas / epidemiology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Immunoglobulin G