Studies from National University further understanding of hantavirus
December 30th, 2008
2008 DEC 30 -- According to recent research published in the journal Molecular Ecology Resources, "The rodent Oligoryzomys longicaudatus or long-tailed pygmy rice rat is the reservoir of the aetiological agent of the hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in southern Argentina and Chile."
"We characterize 11 polymorphic microsatellite loci which would be useful for studies on microgeographical population structure in the species. Amplification of these loci in 42 individuals from four natural populations revealed four to 21 alleles per locus, and values of observed heterozygosities ranging from 0.371 to 0.896," wrote R.E. Gonzalezittig and colleagues, National University.
The researchers concluded: "Cross-species amplifications showed that some of the primers designed may be useful for other species of the genus Oligoryzomys."
Gonzalezittig and colleagues published their study in Molecular Ecology Resources (Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers in Oligoryzomys longicaudatus (Muridae, Sigmodontinae, Oryzomini), the natural reservoir of genotype Andes hantavirus. Molecular Ecology Resources, 2008;8(6):1466-1468).
For additional information, contact R.E. Gonzalezittig, Cordoba National University, Faculty Ciencias Exactas Fis & Nat, Catedra Genetics Poblac & Evoluc, Av Velez Sarsfield 299, RA-5000 Cordoba, Argentina.
The publisher's contact information for the journal Molecular Ecology Resources is: Blackwell Publishing, 9600 Garsington Rd., Oxford OX4 2DQ, Oxon, England.
