Ecology of Lassa Virus

Allison R. Smither, Antoinette R. Bell-Kareem

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Individuals living in endemic hotspots of Lassa fever have recurrent exposure to Lassa virus (LASV) via spillover from the primary host reservoir Mastomys natalensis. Despite M. natalensis being broadly distributed across sub-Saharan Africa, Lassa fever is only found in West Africa. In recent years, new LASV reservoirs have been identified. Erudition of rodent habitats, reproduction and fecundity, movement patterns, and spatial preferences are essential to institute preventative measures against Lassa fever. Evolutionary insights have also added to our knowledge of closely related mammarenavirus distribution amongst rodents throughout the continent.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationCurrent Topics in Microbiology and Immunology
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Pages67-86
Number of pages20
DOIs
StatePublished - 2023

Publication series

NameCurrent Topics in Microbiology and Immunology
Volume440
ISSN (Print)0070-217X
ISSN (Electronic)2196-9965

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Microbiology (medical)

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