Parasitic Infections in Hanta virus positive and negative red backed voles caught in southern Germany during the year 2000

The red backed vole is the most frequent mammal in central Europe, it was speculated that it could be used as an indicator for the occurrence of potentially zoonotic viral and parasitic pathogens in a certain area. 44 wild – caught red backed voles from Oberfranken were examined for presence of hantavirus infection and parasitic side infections. The voles were screened for viral infection by PCR, virus isolation and IFT, a selection of tissues (lung, liver, spleen, kidney, and brain) were examined pathohistologically for presence of viral inclusion bodies and parasites. 23 of the voles were tested positive for hantavirus, 21 were negative. In the liver eosinophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies were found in 17 voles of the hantavirus positive group and in 2 of the hantavirus negative group. Liver flukes were found in 6 animals of the Hantavirus positive and in 3 negative group. 13 animals of the virus positive group and one in the negative group showed intranuclear inclusion bodies in the kidney. Emmonsia crescens was found in two lungs of the virus positive group. 17 animals of the virus positive group showed presence of infection with Frenkelia sp in the lung and 15 in the brain. Frenkelia sp was found in 10 lungs and 6 brains of the virus negative group. The spleen of 4 of the animals from the virus positive group showed follicular depletion, one animal of the virus negative group showed follicular hyperplasia. Moderate megakaryocytosis was found in two spleens of the virus negative group. The zoonotic potential of the occurring parasites and fungi is doubtful, the importance of the prevalence of hanta virus infection in red backed voles as a reservoir for human infection has yet to be determined.