摘要:The biogeographical examination of rodent faunas associated with arenaviruses reveals two distinct patterns. Lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM) virus is associated primarily with a single murid species, Mus musculus , although it is also known to cause laboratory infections in other species. On the other hand, the arenaviruses from the Western hemisphere are associated exclusively with a large and diverse group of cricetid rodents. Studies to date, although limited, have not demonstrated their association with any other rodent groups, although in South America alone at least twelve other rodent families are known. Evidence at the present time indicates that Lassa virus is only associated with a common African rodent, Mastomys natalensis . From this limited evidence it is as yet difficult to determine whether Lassa virus will follow the pattern of the South American arenaviruses, most of which are known from several species of rodents, or that of LCM virus, which appears to be associated with only a single rodent species. In this paper, the history and structure of South American, Eurasian, and African rodent faunas are described. Full text Full text is available as a scanned copy of the original print version. Get a printable copy (PDF file) of the complete article (1003K), or click on a page image below to browse page by page. Links to PubMed are also available for Selected References . 621 622 623 624 625 626 627