Serologic evidence of Hantaan-like virus in rodents and man in Thailand.

A serologic survey was conducted to determine the presence of antibody to Hantavirus in rodents in Thailand. Sera from over 300 rodents were tested by an immunofluorescent antibody method. Bandicota indica, a field rodent, was found to have a high incidence of infection (20-24%) in 2 locations. A Hantavirus was isolated from lung samples of B. indica. When sera were tested from humans living in Kanchanaburi and several locations in Bangkok, those people living in close proximity to the infected B. indica had greater than 30% prevalence of positive antibody titers.