Speaker
Description
Lassa virus (LASV) is a hemorrhagic fever-causing Arenavirus endemic in Western Africa. Up to 5000 deaths per year are attributed to infections with this rodent-borne pathogen.
The main rodent reservoir is the multimammate mouse Mastomys natalensis a commensal rodent found throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. However, in recent years several other rodent species have been identified as additional reservoir hosts. In this study we assessed the ability of several LASV strains originating from other rodent reservoirs to establish infection in M. natalensis.
Mastomys natalensis were infected with various LASV strains using different infectious doses . Animals were followed for up to eight weeks post-infection and blood, organs and urine were sampled at frequent intervals. Furthermore, naïve animals were co-housed with inoculated individuals to assess natural transmission.
We previously described long term persistence of LASV isolated from M. natalensis in its natural rodent host. Similarly, a LASV strain isolated from the closely related M. erythroleucus is also capable of establishing persistent infections in M. natalensis and is readily transmitted to exposed individuals. In contrast, LASV strains originating from non-Mastomys rodents only caused transient infections followed by seroconversion. Furthermore, these strains showed no or only limited transmission between infected animals and their contacts.
Keywords
Lassa virus, Mastomys natalensis, Host-species barriers
| Registration-ID code | ZOO23-565 |
|---|---|
| Professional Status of the Speaker | Postdoc |
| Junior Scientist Status | Yes, I am a Junior Scientist. |
Primary author
Co-authors
External references
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