Tula virus in populations of small terrestrial mammals in a rural landscape

• Published in: Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases
• Main Authors: Heroldová, M. (Marta), Pejčoch, M., Bryja, J. (Josef), Jánová, E. (Eva), Suchomel, J., Tkadlec, E. (Emil)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: crop fields; host species; rural habitat; Tula virus antigen; Tula; Common vole; Microtus arvalis
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1089/vbz.2009.0211; http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0185249

Populations of small mammals from a rural landscape in southern Moravia (Czech Republic) were investigated for the presence of Tula virus (TULV) antigen using the ELISA set Hantagnost (2000-2004). In total, 1566 individuals from 10 species were examined. The prevalence in the common vole (Microtus arvalis Pallas 1778), the main reservoir of TULV, was 10% (n=871). The prevalence of TULV antigen increases with its population numbers. The highest number of TULV antigen-positive common voles was found in set-aside plots and winter crops, such as rape and winter wheat. All these habitats are important for common vole overwintering. Older and heavier individuals were more often hantavirus antigen positive. From the other small mammal species, 3 pygmy field mice (Apodemus uralensis) and 1 wood mouse (A. sylvaticus) were positive. The remaining rodent species were hantavirus antigen negative.