Serological survey with the antigen of haemorrhagic fever virus with renal syndrome in small rodents in Slovakia.

Results of serological survey in small rodents with the antigen of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) virus indicate the existence of a natural focus of this virus in Slovakia. Antibodies were found in the following free-living rodent species: Clethrionomys glareolus, Apodemus agrarius, Apodemus sylvaticus, Pitymys subterraneus, Microtus arvalis and Microtus economus. A total 10 out of 120 (8.2%) small rodents trapped in investigated localities of Western and Eastern Slovakia had antibodies to the HFRS virus antigen as detected by complement fixation (CF) and/or immunofluorescence (IF) tests.