Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus in Employees and Mice at Multipremises Feeder-Rodent Operation, United States, 2012

• Main Authors: Barbara Knust, Ute Ströher, Laura Edison, César G. Albariño, Jodi Lovejoy, Emilian Armeanu, Jennifer House, Denise Cory, Clayton Horton, Kathy L. Fowler, Jessica Austin, John Poe, Kraig E. Humbaugh, Lisa Guerrero, Shelley Campbell, Aridth Gibbons, Zachary Reed, Deborah Cannon, Craig Manning, Brett Petersen, Douglas Metcalf, Bret Marsh, Stuart T. Nichol, Pierre E. Rollin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2014-02-01
• Series: Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Subjects: Lymphocytic choriomeningitis; viruses; zoonoses; occupational health; viral meningitis; rodent-borne disease
• Online Access: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/20/2/13-0860_article
• ISSN: 1080-6040; 1080-6059

We investigated the extent of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection in employees and rodents at 3 commercial breeding facilities. Of 97 employees tested, 31 (32%) had IgM and/or IgG to LCMV, and aseptic meningitis was diagnosed in 4 employees. Of 1,820 rodents tested in 1 facility, 382 (21%) mice (Mus musculus) had detectable IgG, and 13 (0.7%) were positive by reverse transcription PCR; LCMV was isolated from 8. Rats (Rattus norvegicus) were not found to be infected. S-segment RNA sequence was similar to strains previously isolated in North America. Contact by wild mice with colony mice was the likely source for LCMV, and shipments of infected mice among facilities spread the infection. The breeding colonies were depopulated to prevent further human infections. Future outbreaks can be prevented with monitoring and management, and employees should be made aware of LCMV risks and prevention. Download MP3  Length: 1:42