Hantavirus in Tucson, Arizona
Of Mice and Microbes
In September 2025, our laboratory had special visitors from Atlanta, Georgia: Brian Ammon and Jon Towner from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Viral Special Pathogens Branch! We have joined forces with VSPB's premiere disease ecologists, the Pima County Health Department, and an MPH student from the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health to begin researching Sin Nombre Hantavirus in Tucson, Arizona.
To begin understanding the virus's ecology, we have picked multiple locations throughout the city of Tucson to trap rodents. Any rodents that we catch - from woodrats to pocket mice - have their measurements taken, blood samples, and an identifying ear tag attached before they are released back into their habitats.
The rodent blood samples return with us to the laboratories to be tested via PCR for presence of active Sin Nombre infection.
To begin understanding the virus's ecology, we have picked multiple locations throughout the city of Tucson to trap rodents. Any rodents that we catch - from woodrats to pocket mice - have their measurements taken, blood samples, and an identifying ear tag attached before they are released back into their habitats.
The rodent blood samples return with us to the laboratories to be tested via PCR for presence of active Sin Nombre infection.
Holding up a white-throated woodrat (Neotoma albigula) that we trapped and sampled
The sampling team drawing blood from a rodent
A leaning tower of bleach-cleaned Sherman traps
The team, including University of Arizona, Pima County Health Department, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The sampling team taking morphological measurements of a rodent
Holding up a white-throated woodrat (Neotoma albigula) that we trapped and sampled
The sampling team drawing blood from a rodent
A leaning tower of bleach-cleaned Sherman traps
The team, including University of Arizona, Pima County Health Department, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The sampling team taking morphological measurements of a rodent