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Lassa fever in Guinea: II. Distribution and prevalence of Lassa virus infection in small mammals

A H Demby1, A Inapogui, K Kargbo

  • 1Special Pathogens Branch, Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.

Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases (Larchmont, N.Y.)
|March 26, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Lassa virus (LV) circulates in Mastomys rodents in Guinea, posing a public health risk. Infected rodents cluster in focal "hot spots," explaining the uneven distribution of Lassa fever (LF) cases.

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Virology
  • Public Health Entomology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Rodents of the genus Mastomys are the primary reservoir for Lassa virus (LV), the causative agent of Lassa fever (LF).
  • Human Lassa fever cases often present a focal distribution, despite the widespread presence of Mastomys rodents across sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Limited data exists on the distribution of small mammals and LV-infected Mastomys in many affected regions, including Guinea.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the public health risk posed by Lassa virus in Guinea.
  • To survey small mammal populations and identify the prevalence and distribution of LV in Mastomys rodents.
  • To investigate the spatial patterns of LV infection in wildlife.

Main Methods:

  • Conducted a small mammal survey in selected regions of Guinea, capturing 1,616 animals, with Mastomys comprising 59%.
  • Utilized enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect LV-specific antigen and IgG antibody in Mastomys blood and spleen homogenates.
  • Performed virus isolation from spleen homogenates and analyzed ELISA antigen as a surrogate for virus isolation.

Main Results:

  • Lassa antibodies and antigens were detected in 11% and 5% of tested Mastomys, respectively.
  • LV was exclusively isolated from Mastomys rodents.
  • ELISA antigen detection showed high sensitivity (78%) and specificity (98%) as a surrogate for virus isolation.
  • The proportion of LV-infected Mastomys varied from 0-9%, with higher rates in savannah and forest zones.
  • Infected Mastomys were found to cluster in specific houses, indicating focal
  • hot spots
  • of LV infection.

Conclusions:

  • Mastomys rodents are the primary reservoir for Lassa virus in Guinea.
  • The focal distribution of infected Mastomys likely contributes to the heterogeneous pattern of Lassa fever outbreaks.
  • Targeted surveillance and control efforts in identified
  • hot spots
  • may be crucial for mitigating Lassa fever risk.

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