Proposition for understanding the seroprevalence of hantavirus in wild mouse populations through anitbody testing and species genotype identification in Eastern Indiana

The presence of epizootic viruses has become a priority for wildlife management and public health especially due to human development increasing interactions with wildlife. Understanding and monitoring hantaviruses is important due to the current 37% mortality rate among humans. Hantaviruses are quickly becoming an issue throughout Midwestern United States. The main reservoir for the spread of the virus are wild mice (Peromyscus sp.) through the aerosolization of their saliva or excreta. Sin Nombre virus, a type of hantavirus, has been documented on the western side of the state of Indiana since 1994, but it is unclear if the presence is statewide or localized. Determining the presence of hantaviruses on the eastern side of the state will give a better understanding of where the viruses can be found. The presence of the viruses may have implications in changing protocols for how biologists interact with wild mice and may change how the public approaches areas that have large populations of wild mice on the urban landscape. When determining the presence of hantaviruses, blood and tissue samples should be collected from captured individuals to test antibodies for hantaviruses via ELISA and to genetically identify Peromyscus to their species via PCR, due to prior studies showing that P. maniculatus has higher hantavirus prevalence rates than P. leucopus.