Jpn. J. Infect. Dis., 54, 95-102, 2001

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Review

Epidemiology and Epizootiology of Hantavirus Infection in Japan

Jiro Arikawa*, Kumiko Yoshimatsu and Hiroaki Kariwa1

Institute for Animal Experimentation, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Kita-15, Nishi-7, Sapporo 060-8638 and 1Department of Veterinary Public Health, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Kita-18, Nishi-9, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan

(Received June 6, 2001. Accepted August 3, 2001)

CONTENTS:
Summary
Introduction
Clinical manifestations of HFRS and HPS
Viral agents of HFRS and HPS
Distribution of HFRS and HPS
Historical background of HFRS in Japan
Prevalence of anti-hantavirus antibodies in the Japanese population
Epizootiologic study of hantavirus infection among rodents in Japan
Conclusion


SUMMARY: Hantaviruses cause two severe human diseases: hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). Various rodent species act as animal reservoirs for hantavirus. In Japan, urban rat- (Rattus norvegicus) and laboratory rat-derived human infections were reported during the 1960s and 1970s-1984, respectively. Although no human cases of infection have been reported since 1984, infected urban rats have been found throughout Japan, and infected grey red-backed voles (Clethrionomys rufocanus) have been identified in Hokkaido. These carriers can be considered to be potential sources of human infection. This review examines the epidemiology and epizootiology of this important zoonosis in Japan.


*Corresponding author: Tel: +81-11-706-6905, Fax: +81-11-706-7879, E-mail: j_arika@med.hokudai.ac.jp


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