Local habitat choice of Puumala virus (PUUV) seropositive bank voles (Myodes glareolus) in Northern Sweden :

Abstract: In humans, Puumala virus (PUUV) of the genus Hantavirus causes hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. The primary host-reservoir in Europe is the bank vole (Myodes glareolus). To understand the persistence of PUUV among hosts we must understand the environment that the bank vole prefers, and therefore, the environment in which PUUV is harboured. In this study bank voles in Västerbotten, Sweden were sampled in 1998 according to documented human infections occurring at different sites between the years of 1991 to 1996, and at paired random control sites. It was confirmed that bank vole abundances, irrespective of PUUV status, were higher in sites located in highly productive, old spruce (Picea abies) forests with a dominating undergrowth of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus). I suggest that, in order to better predict the outbreaks of PUUV, we need a better understanding of the population dynamics of the bank vole and individual vole behaviour with respect to the differences in habitat choice at a regional scale.