Prevalence and Distribution of Hantavirus Across the Contiguous United States

University

Shawnee State University

Major

Organismal Biology

Student Type

Undergraduate Student

Presentation Types

Oral Presentation (Live)

Keywords:

Hantavirus, epidemiology, rodent-borne disease, ArcGIS

Abstract

Hantaviruses are a major human health concern due to their ability to cause hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). Hantaviruses naturally transmit among wild rodents, but transmission to humans can occur from contact with infected rodents or their excreta. Data from the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) hantavirus surveillance program was used to identify the infection status of 14,046 individuals among a diversity of species. I used ArcGIS, and this data, to analyze the spatial distribution of infected rodents across the contiguous United States. Additionally, I looked at the prevalence of hantavirus among different species—including both known reservoir hosts and unknown, potential hosts—to examine the possibility of host competence in previously unrecorded species. Because exposure to rodents is necessary for human infection, the results of this study will identify hantavirus hosts and their distribution to help us mitigate epidemiological risks.

Human and Animal Subjects

no

IRB or IACUC Approval

no

Faculty Mentor Name

Nathaniel Mull

Faculty Mentor Title

PhD

Faculty Mentor Department

Natural Sciences

Second Faculty Mentor

Erik Larson

Second Faculty Mentor Title

PhD

Second Faculty Mentor Department

Natural Sciences

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Prevalence and Distribution of Hantavirus Across the Contiguous United States

Hantaviruses are a major human health concern due to their ability to cause hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). Hantaviruses naturally transmit among wild rodents, but transmission to humans can occur from contact with infected rodents or their excreta. Data from the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) hantavirus surveillance program was used to identify the infection status of 14,046 individuals among a diversity of species. I used ArcGIS, and this data, to analyze the spatial distribution of infected rodents across the contiguous United States. Additionally, I looked at the prevalence of hantavirus among different species—including both known reservoir hosts and unknown, potential hosts—to examine the possibility of host competence in previously unrecorded species. Because exposure to rodents is necessary for human infection, the results of this study will identify hantavirus hosts and their distribution to help us mitigate epidemiological risks.