Bayou virus screening data of marsh rice rats (Oryzomys palustris) trapped on oiled and unoiled plots in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, 2013-06-03 to 2017-07-02

Marsh rice rats were captured and dissected in June 2013-2017 at four oiled, three unoiled, and three reference sites. Blood was collected from mark and release animals, and a subset of rice rats were dissected for tissue samples. Total RNA was isolated from lung and kidney tissues so that viral RNA (belonging to a hantavirus strain, called Bayou virus) might be detected by qRT-PCR. Whole blood or serum samples were screened by immunofluorescent assays to detect antibodies for hantaviruses. In addition to this data, sample collection information is also reported.