An emerging zoonosis in Scandinavia -- nephropathia epidemica.

The paper reviews as zoonosis the disease called Nephropathia epidemica in north European countries. The etiology is as yet unsolved but a viral one is highly suspected with small rodents (voles and mice) as the source of infection. Based on the epidemiological peculiarities of the disease, the ecology of the agent and hypothetical ways of transmission of infection from small rodents to man are discussed.