Diverse Beta- and Gammaherpesviruses in Neotropical Rodents from Costa Rica.

Neotropical wild rodents from Costa Rica were analyzed for the presence of herpesviruses (order Herpesvirales , family Herpesviridae ). Using a broadly generic PCR, herpesvirus sequences were detected in 5% (8/160) of liver and heart samples: seven putative gammaherpesviruses in samples from Talamancan oryzomys ( Nephelomys devius ), sprightly colilargo ( Oligoryzomys vegetus ), Mexican deer mouse ( Peromyscus nudipes ), and Chiriqui harvest mouse ( Reithrodontomys creper ) and one putative betaherpesvirus in long-tailed singing mouse ( Scotinomys xerampelinus ). Results from this study could guide ecological investigations targeting the prevalence and host associations of herpesviruses in wild rodents from Costa Rica.