Ljungan virus
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The Ljungan virus is a recently described picorna virus of bank voles which may be comprised of two or more serotypes. The virus was originally isolated in the Ljungan Valley in Medelpad county of Sweden from the most abundant small rodent in this area, the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus). Since then additional isolates have been discovered in Sweden, Denmark and the USA. The Ljungan virus causes diabetes, neurological disease, myocarditis and disease and deaths in pregnant laboratory mice and their offspring. The possibility that this virus causes the same diseases in wild small rodents such as voles and lemmings as well as in humans is presently investigated.
