1. Is there an association of Pneumocystis infection with the presence of arena-, hanta-, and poxvirus antibodies in wild mice and shrews in Finland?
- Author
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Laakkonen J, Kallio ER, Kallio-Kokko H, Vapalahti O, Vaheri A, and Henttonen H
- Subjects
- Animals, Antibodies, Viral blood, Arenaviridae Infections epidemiology, Arenaviridae Infections veterinary, Arenavirus immunology, Female, Finland epidemiology, Orthohantavirus immunology, Hantavirus Infections epidemiology, Hantavirus Infections veterinary, Lung microbiology, Male, Pneumocystis Infections complications, Pneumocystis Infections epidemiology, Poxviridae immunology, Poxviridae Infections epidemiology, Poxviridae Infections veterinary, Rodent Diseases microbiology, Rodent Diseases virology, Virus Diseases complications, Virus Diseases epidemiology, Murinae, Pneumocystis Infections veterinary, Rodent Diseases epidemiology, Shrews, Virus Diseases veterinary
- Abstract
As part of studies on the nature of the endemic virus infections in natural rodent hosts, the possible association of cyst forms of Pneumocystis spp. with the presence of hanta-, cowpox-, and arenavirus antibodies in wild mice (Apodemus flavicollis, N=105; Apodemus agrarius, N=63; Micromys minutus, N=50) and the common shrew (Sorex araneus, N=101) was studied in south-central Finland. One hantavirus (Saaremaa virus, SAAV) seropositive A. agrarius, and 2 cowpoxvirus (CPXV) seropositive S. araneus were detected, and antibodies against an arenavirus (Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, LCMV) were found in all 3 mouse species but not in shrews. Cyst forms of Pneumocystis spp. were detected in all species except A. agrarius. There was no significant association between virus antibodies (LCMV in mice, and CPXV in shrews) and cyst forms of Pneumocystis in any of the species. Concurrent presence of virus antibodies (LCMV) and cyst forms of Pneumocystis were detected only in 1 M. minutus. In conclusion, we found no evidence of any association between Pneumocystis and antibodies to any of the viruses tested.
- Published
- 2006
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