Etiology:  Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) is an enveloped RNA virus of the arenavirus group.

Transmission: Transmission occurs via urine and saliva, traumatized skin, conjunctiva, respiratory passages, or congenital contamination.

Public Health Significance:  People are susceptible to LCMV, and experience flu-like symptoms and occasional nonsuppurative meningitis.  Past reports of zoonosis have linked human infections to exposure to infected pet hamsters [1] [2].

Please see hamster Viral Diseases for more details.

1.            Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus From Pet Rodents. Available from: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/13/5/06-1269_article

2.            Barton, L.L., M.B. Mets, and C.L. Beauchamp, Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus: emerging fetal teratogen. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 2002. 187(6): p. 1715-6.