Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (Jun 2020)

A Retrospective Survey of Rodent-borne Viruses in Rural Populations of Brazilian Amazon

  • Jorlan Fernandes,
  • Thayssa Alves Coelho,
  • Renata Carvalho de Oliveira,
  • Alexandro Guterres,
  • Claudia Lamarca Vitral,
  • Bernardo Rodrigues Teixeira,
  • Fernando de Oliveira Santos,
  • Jaqueline Mendes de Oliveira,
  • Mônica da Silva-Nunes,
  • Marco Aurélio Pereira Horta,
  • Silvana C. Levis,
  • Marcelo Urbano Ferreira,
  • Elba Regina Sampaio de Lemos

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0511-2019
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 53

Abstract

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Abstract INTRODUCTION: The Amazon tropical rainforest has the most dense and diverse ecosystem worldwide. A few studies have addressed rodent-borne diseases as potential hazards to humans in this region. METHODS: A retrospective survey was conducted using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detecting mammarenavirus and orthohantavirus antibodies in 206 samples collected from rural settlers of the Brazilian Western Amazonian region. RESULTS: Six (2.91%) individuals in the age group of 16 to 36 years were found to possess antibodies against mammarenavirus. CONCLUSION: Evidence of previous exposure to mammarenavirus in the rural population points to its silent circulation in this region.

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