Antibodies Against Seoul Hantavirus in Brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) from Grenada, West Indies

ABSTRACT

Hantavirus is an emerging zoonotic virus, cause of fatal diseases in humans. Brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) are known reservoir host for Seoul hantavirus. This is the second report of prevalence of antibodies against hantavirus in brown rats in Grenada. Sera from 169 brown rats were tested using ELISA for antibodies against hantavirus. Prevalence of antibodies was found in 47 rats (27.5%). There was no significant difference related to age and sex of seropositive rats. Although no case of hantavirus infection in humanshas been recorded in Grenada, the presence of moderate infection in reservoir host should be considered a risk factor for disease transmissi on in humans.