Orthohantavirus infection in two rodent species that inhabit wetlands in the central-east region of Argentina

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is an emerging infectious disease caused by orthohantaviruses associated to rodents of the Cricetidae family, Sigmodontinae subfamily, in the American continent. Previous research carried out in central-east region of Argentina, recorded potential orthohantavirus host rodents in diverse environments, but infected rodents were particularly present on Parana wetlands islands. The aims of this research were (1) to determine the orthohantavirus host in the rodent community focused on islands of Parana River Delta, an endemic zone of HPS, (2) to identify temporal and spatial factors associated with orthohantavirus prevalence variations, (3) to compare the individual characteristics of seropositive and seronegative rodents and, (4) to explore the association between orthohantavirus seroprevalence and rodent community characteristics in the Parana River Delta, central-east region of Argentina. Capture of small rodents was done between August 2014 and May 2018 on seven islands located in central-east region of Argentina. In this HPS endemic zone, 14.9% of Oligoryzomys flavescens and 1.5% of Oxymycterus rufus of the sampled rodents had antibodies against orthohantavirus. The individuals that were more likely to become seropositive were the reproductively active adult males. Even though O. flavescens inhabit all islands, the seropositive individuals were only present in two of these, suggesting spatial heterogeneity in the viral distribution. We found that two months later of periods with low temperature, seroprevalence increased probably due to a higher proportion of adults in the population. Additionally, higher seroprevalence was associated with greater diversity of the rodent assemblage. This association could support the idea that a rescue effect or amplification of the prevalence of orthohantavirus would be taking place by means of secondary host as O. rufus, a novelty for this species and for the region. This finding may be significant if one takes into account that O. rufus was the second most abundant species in the area of islands studied and is one of the most abundant species on the islands and riparian sectors of the study zone. In conclusion, the relative risk of HPS could be high on wetlands of Parana River Delta in the central-east region of Argentina where several favourable factors for the transmission of orthohantavirus are combined, such as the presence of several host species, two of them numerically dominant, high percentages of infection and a high degree of occupational exposure of the human population due to rural activities, the most frequently associated nationwide with HPS. SynopsisHantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is an emerging infectious disease endemic of the American continent transmited by rodents. The aim of this research was to determine hosts species of orthohantaviruses in the rodent community on islands of Parana River Delta, an HPS endemic zone of Argentina. We recorded the 14.9% of Oligoryzomys flavescens and 1.5% of Oxymycterus rufus with antibodies against orthohantavirus, which were principally reproductively active adult males. Seroprevalence increased after periods of low temperatures, probably due to the mortality of juveniles and survival of adults in the population. Additionally, the highest percentage of seropositive rodents occurred in times with a greater diversity of the rodent assemblage. This association could support the idea of amplification of the prevalence of orthohantavirus would be taking place by means of O. rufus infected, a novelty for this species and for the region. In conclusion, HPS risk could be high on wetlands of Parana River Delta in the central-east region of Argentina where several favourable factors for the transmission of orthohantavirus are combined, such as the presence of several host species, high percentages of infection and a high degree of occupational exposure of the population due to rural activities.