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May 5, 1975, Vol 232, No. 5 >
ARTICLE | May 5, 1975

Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Outbreak Associated With Pet Hamsters: Title and subTitle BreakFifty-Seven Cases From New York State FREE

Robert J. Biggar, MD; John P. Woodall, PhD; Paul D. Walter, MD; Glenn E. Haughie, MD
[+] Author Affiliations

Reprint requests to Center for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA 30333 (Dr. Biggar).


JAMA. 1975;232(5):494-500. doi:10.1001/jama.1975.03250050016009
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References

An outbreak of lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM) associated with pet hamsters acquired through a nationwide distributor was recognized in New York in February 1974. In upstate New York, 57 cases occurred in a four-month period. Complete information was obtained on 49 patients ranging in age from 3 to 70 years. Characteristic findings included fever (90%), headache (85%), and severe myalgia (80%). Typically, laboratory findings consisted of a normal blood cell count and cerebrospinal fluid with mononuclear leukocyte pleocytosis and moderate hypoglycorrhachia.

All patients had contact with hamsters from one distributor. Most of the hamsters were acquired in mid to late December 1973, but some as late as March 1974. From each of eight families in which hamsters were available, at least one hamster had detectable complement-fixing antibodies for LCM. Infection rates within families varied with location and type of hamster cage; open cages and cages situated in common living areas were associated with highest infection rates (45% and 52%, respectively). Severity of illness was not associated with direct contact with hamsters. Onset of illness occurred between 8 and 90 days after initial exposure to hamsters.

(JAMA 232:494-500, 1975)

REFERENCES

1 +
Lewis AM, Rowe WP, Turner HC, et al:  Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus in hamster tumor: Spread to hamsters and humans . Science 150:363-364, 1965;.
2 +
Baum SG, Lewis AM, Rose WP, et al:  Epidemic non-meningitis lymphocytic-choriomeningitis-virus infection: An outbreak in a population of laboratory personnel . N Engl J Med 274:934-936, 1966;.
3 +
Armstrong D, Fortner JG, Rowe WP, et al:  Meningitis due to lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus endemic in a hamster colon . JAMA 209:265-267, 1969;.
4 +
Ackerman R, Stille W, Blumenthal W, et al:  Syrysche golhamster als unbertrager von lymphozytarer choriomeningitis . Dtsch Med Wschr 97:1725-1731, 1972;.
5 +
Kent JF, Fife EH Jr:  Precise standardization of reagents for complement fixation . Am J Trop Med Hyg 12:103-116, 1963;.
6 +
Saver JL:  Application of a micro technique to viral serological investigation . J Immunol 88:320-329, 1962;.
7 +
Cohen SM, Traindaphilli IA, Barlow JL, et al:  Immunofluorescent detection of antibody to lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus in man . J Immunol 96:777-784, 1966;.
8 +
Hotchin J, Benson LM:  Pathogenesis of lymphocytic choriomeningitis in mice: The effects of different inoculation routes and foot pad response . J Immunol 91:460-468, 1963;.
9 +
Hotchin J:  The biology of lymphocytic choriomeningitis infection: Virus induced immune disease . Cold Spring Harbor Symp Quant Biol 27:479-499, 1962;.
10 +
Brandriss M, Betts R, Tillotson J, et al:  Lymphocytic choriomeningitis associated with pet hamsters . Morbidity Mortality Weekly Rep 23:69-70, 1974;.
11 +
Lehmann-Grube F: Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus , virology monograph 10. New York, Springer Verlag, 1971;, pp 89-101.
12 +
Smadel JE, Green RH, Paltauf RM, et al:  Lymphocytic choriomeningitis: Two human fatalities following an unusual febrile illness . Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 49:683-686, 1942;.
13 +
Maccallum FE, Findlay GM:  Lymphocytic choriomeningitis: Isolation of the virus from the nasopharynx . Lancet 1:1370-1373, 1939;.
14 +
Komrower GM, Williams BL, Stones PB:  Lymphocytic choriomeningitis in the newborn: Probable transplacental infection . Lancet 1:697-698, 1955;.
15 +
Ackerman R, Körver G, Turss R, et al:  Pränatale infektion mit dem virus der lymphozytarer choriomeningitis: Bericht über zwer fälle . Dtsch Med Wschr 99:629-632, 1974;.
16 +
Benda R:  Passive immunoprophylaxis and immunotherapy of inhalation lymphocytic choriomeningitis in guinea pigs . J Hyg Epidem 8:243-251, 1964;.
17 +
Hotchin J:  The contamination of laboratory animals with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus . Am J Pathol 64:747-769, 1971;.
18 +
Lehmann-Grube F:  Dose-response relationships of lymphocytic choriomeningitis viruses in mice and L cell tube cultures . J Hyg 67:269-278, 1969;.
19 +
Smadel JE, Wall MJ:  Lymphocytic choriomeningitis in the Syrian hamster . J Exp Med 75:581-591, 1942;.
20 +
Volkert M, Hannover-Larsen J:  Studies on immunologic tolerance to LCM virus: 5. The induction of tolerance to the virus . Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand 63:161-171, 1965;.
21 +
Hotchin J, Kinch W:  Microplaque reductions: New assay for lymphocytic choriomeningitis neutralizing antibody . J Infect Dis , to be published.

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1 +
Lewis AM, Rowe WP, Turner HC, et al:  Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus in hamster tumor: Spread to hamsters and humans . Science 150:363-364, 1965;.
2 +
Baum SG, Lewis AM, Rose WP, et al:  Epidemic non-meningitis lymphocytic-choriomeningitis-virus infection: An outbreak in a population of laboratory personnel . N Engl J Med 274:934-936, 1966;.
3 +
Armstrong D, Fortner JG, Rowe WP, et al:  Meningitis due to lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus endemic in a hamster colon . JAMA 209:265-267, 1969;.
4 +
Ackerman R, Stille W, Blumenthal W, et al:  Syrysche golhamster als unbertrager von lymphozytarer choriomeningitis . Dtsch Med Wschr 97:1725-1731, 1972;.
5 +
Kent JF, Fife EH Jr:  Precise standardization of reagents for complement fixation . Am J Trop Med Hyg 12:103-116, 1963;.
6 +
Saver JL:  Application of a micro technique to viral serological investigation . J Immunol 88:320-329, 1962;.
7 +
Cohen SM, Traindaphilli IA, Barlow JL, et al:  Immunofluorescent detection of antibody to lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus in man . J Immunol 96:777-784, 1966;.
8 +
Hotchin J, Benson LM:  Pathogenesis of lymphocytic choriomeningitis in mice: The effects of different inoculation routes and foot pad response . J Immunol 91:460-468, 1963;.
9 +
Hotchin J:  The biology of lymphocytic choriomeningitis infection: Virus induced immune disease . Cold Spring Harbor Symp Quant Biol 27:479-499, 1962;.
10 +
Brandriss M, Betts R, Tillotson J, et al:  Lymphocytic choriomeningitis associated with pet hamsters . Morbidity Mortality Weekly Rep 23:69-70, 1974;.
11 +
Lehmann-Grube F: Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus , virology monograph 10. New York, Springer Verlag, 1971;, pp 89-101.
12 +
Smadel JE, Green RH, Paltauf RM, et al:  Lymphocytic choriomeningitis: Two human fatalities following an unusual febrile illness . Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 49:683-686, 1942;.
13 +
Maccallum FE, Findlay GM:  Lymphocytic choriomeningitis: Isolation of the virus from the nasopharynx . Lancet 1:1370-1373, 1939;.
14 +
Komrower GM, Williams BL, Stones PB:  Lymphocytic choriomeningitis in the newborn: Probable transplacental infection . Lancet 1:697-698, 1955;.
15 +
Ackerman R, Körver G, Turss R, et al:  Pränatale infektion mit dem virus der lymphozytarer choriomeningitis: Bericht über zwer fälle . Dtsch Med Wschr 99:629-632, 1974;.
16 +
Benda R:  Passive immunoprophylaxis and immunotherapy of inhalation lymphocytic choriomeningitis in guinea pigs . J Hyg Epidem 8:243-251, 1964;.
17 +
Hotchin J:  The contamination of laboratory animals with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus . Am J Pathol 64:747-769, 1971;.
18 +
Lehmann-Grube F:  Dose-response relationships of lymphocytic choriomeningitis viruses in mice and L cell tube cultures . J Hyg 67:269-278, 1969;.
19 +
Smadel JE, Wall MJ:  Lymphocytic choriomeningitis in the Syrian hamster . J Exp Med 75:581-591, 1942;.
20 +
Volkert M, Hannover-Larsen J:  Studies on immunologic tolerance to LCM virus: 5. The induction of tolerance to the virus . Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand 63:161-171, 1965;.
21 +
Hotchin J, Kinch W:  Microplaque reductions: New assay for lymphocytic choriomeningitis neutralizing antibody . J Infect Dis , to be published.

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