The potential role of Syrian hamsters and other small animals as reservoirs of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus

Abstract

The history of human infections with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus is briefly reviewed, with special reference to those of recent years associated with pet Syrian hamsters. Many human infections have been too trivial to have come to the attention of a physician but others have required long periods of convalescence. There is also evidence that foetal damage has arisen from infection during pregnancy. The virus is perpetuated by vertical transmission in those colonies of wild house mice which are tolerantly infected. These mice excrete the virus throughout life at a high titre in urine and saliva. Experimental evidence is presented which demonstrates the transfer of infection from such mice to Syrian hamsters when natural conditions are simulated. Hamsters infected before weaning may appear healthy while excreting the virus at a high titre for several months, during which they are a serious health hazard to their owners. This secondary reservoir of the virus brings the source of infection one step nearer to the veterinarian in practice, and to his clients, and he will be in a key position to inform or assist his medical colleagues if this hazard is suspected.

Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus in Wild Rodents, Northern Italy

“…Hamsters and guinea pigs may also become infected after close contact with infected M. musculus mice and may also be asymptomatic (16). LCMV transmission in natural rodent hosts occurs vertically, horizontally, and during sexual intercourse.…”

Susceptibility and Resistance of Inbred Strains of Syrian Golden Hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) to Wasting Disease Caused by Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus: Pathogenesis of Lethal and Non-lethal Infections

“…The systemic distribution of infective WE, as noted for the inbred hamsters (Fig. 4), and as described in prior reports of hamster LCMV infections (Smadel & Wall, 1942;Rhodes & Chapman, 1950;Parker et al, 1976;Skinner & Knight, 1979;Thacker et al, 1982), might suggest that the virus is pantropic. In our study LCMV antigens were found by direct immunofluorescence in most organs examined from hamsters with acute WE infection.…”

“…, and a concern in the epidemiology of human LCMV outbreaks (Ackermann, 1973;Skinner & Knight, 1979). Although hamster LCMV infections were largely regarded as inapparent, benign and immunizing (Smadel & Wall, 1942;Volkert & Hannover Larsen, 1965;Parker et al, 1976), episodes of lethal and non-lethal illness in LCMV-inoculated hamsters have been mentioned in these reports and in other studies (Rhodes & Chapman, 1950;F6rster & WachendSrfer, 1973;Thacker et al, 1982).…”

L'évolution des Arenaviridae et de leurs hôtes muridés résulte-t-elle d'évènements de capture ou de processus de coévolution ?

“…Les notions d'hôte principal ou secondaire ont d'abord été définies à propos d'autres roboviroses par (ARATA et al 1973, ARATA et GRATZ 1975et BOWEN et al 1997 KNIGHT, 1979), des arénavirus du Nouveau-Monde (ARATA et al, 1973), puis des virus du groupe LASSA KILEY et al, 1986 ;CHILDS et PETERS, 1993 ;BOWEN et al, 1997 ;GONZALEZ et DUPLANTIER, 1999). …”