Increased Prevalence of Lassa Fever Virus-Positive Rodents and Diversity of Infected Species Found during Human Lassa Fever Epidemics in Nigeria

Anise N. Happi; Testimony J. Olumade; Olusola A. Ogunsanya; Ayotunde E. Sijuwola; Seto C. Ogunleye; Judith U. Oguzie; Cecilia Nwofoke; Chinedu A. Ugwu; Samuel J. Okoro; Patricia I. Otuh; Louis N. Ngele; Oluwafemi O. Ojo; Ademola Adelabu; Roseline F. Adeleye; Nicholas E. Oyejide; Clinton S. Njaka; Jonathan L. Heeney; Christian T. Happi

doi:10.1128/spectrum.00366-22

Increased Prevalence of Lassa Fever Virus-Positive Rodents and Diversity of Infected Species Found during Human Lassa Fever Epidemics in Nigeria

Anise N. Happi, Testimony J. Olumade, Olusola A. Ogunsanya, Ayotunde E. Sijuwola, Seto C. Ogunleye, Judith U. Oguzie, Cecilia Nwofoke, Chinedu A. Ugwu, Samuel J. Okoro, Patricia I. Otuh, Louis N. Ngele, Oluwafemi O. Ojo, Ademola Adelabu, Roseline F. Adeleye, Nicholas E. Oyejide, Clinton S. Njaka, Jonathan L. Heeney, Christian T. Happi

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

The dynamics of Lassa virus (LASV) infections in rodent reservoirs and their endemic human caseloads remain poorly understood. During the endemic period, human infections are believed to be associated with the seasonal migration of Mastomys natalensis, thought to be the primary reservoir that triggers multiple spillovers of LASV to humans. It has become imperative to improve LASV diagnosis in rodents while updating their prevalence in two regions of Lassa fever endemicity in Nigeria. Rodents (total, 942) were trapped in Ondo (531) and Ebonyi (411) states between October 2018 and April 2020 for detection of LASV using various tissues. Overall, the LASV prevalence was 53.6%. The outbreak area sampled in Ondo had three and two times higher capture success and LASV prevalence, respectively, than Ebonyi State. This correlated with the higher number of annual cases of Lassa fever (LF) in Ondo State versus Ebonyi State. All rodent genera (Mastomys, Rattus, Crocidura, Mus, and Tatera) captured in both states showed slightly variable LASV positivity, with Rattus spp. being the most predominantly infected (77.3%) rodents in Ondo State versus Mastomys spp. (41.6%) in Ebonyi State. The tissues with the highest LASV positivity were the kidneys, spleen, and testes. The finding of a relatively high LASV prevalence in all of the rodent genera captured highlights the complex interspecies transmission dynamics of LASV infections in the reservoirs and their potential association with increased environmental contact, as well as the risk of zoonotic spillover in these communities, which have the highest prevalence of Lassa fever in Nigeria.

Original language	English (US)
Journal	Microbiology Spectrum
Volume	10
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.00366-22
State	Published - Aug 2022
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

infected tissues
Lassa diagnosis
Lassa fever
Lassa virus
Nigeria
small rodents

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Physiology
Ecology
General Immunology and Microbiology
Genetics
Microbiology (medical)
Cell Biology
Infectious Diseases

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10.1128/spectrum.00366-22

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Happi, A. N., Olumade, T. J., Ogunsanya, O. A., Sijuwola, A. E., Ogunleye, S. C., Oguzie, J. U., Nwofoke, C., Ugwu, C. A., Okoro, S. J., Otuh, P. I., Ngele, L. N., Ojo, O. O., Adelabu, A., Adeleye, R. F., Oyejide, N. E., Njaka, C. S., Heeney, J. L., & Happi, C. T. (2022). Increased Prevalence of Lassa Fever Virus-Positive Rodents and Diversity of Infected Species Found during Human Lassa Fever Epidemics in Nigeria. Microbiology Spectrum, 10(4). https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.00366-22

Happi, AN, Olumade, TJ, Ogunsanya, OA, Sijuwola, AE, Ogunleye, SC, Oguzie, JU, Nwofoke, C, Ugwu, CA, Okoro, SJ, Otuh, PI, Ngele, LN, Ojo, OO, Adelabu, A, Adeleye, RF, Oyejide, NE, Njaka, CS, Heeney, JL & Happi, CT 2022, 'Increased Prevalence of Lassa Fever Virus-Positive Rodents and Diversity of Infected Species Found during Human Lassa Fever Epidemics in Nigeria', Microbiology Spectrum, vol. 10, no. 4. https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.00366-22

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title = "Increased Prevalence of Lassa Fever Virus-Positive Rodents and Diversity of Infected Species Found during Human Lassa Fever Epidemics in Nigeria",

abstract = "The dynamics of Lassa virus (LASV) infections in rodent reservoirs and their endemic human caseloads remain poorly understood. During the endemic period, human infections are believed to be associated with the seasonal migration of Mastomys natalensis, thought to be the primary reservoir that triggers multiple spillovers of LASV to humans. It has become imperative to improve LASV diagnosis in rodents while updating their prevalence in two regions of Lassa fever endemicity in Nigeria. Rodents (total, 942) were trapped in Ondo (531) and Ebonyi (411) states between October 2018 and April 2020 for detection of LASV using various tissues. Overall, the LASV prevalence was 53.6%. The outbreak area sampled in Ondo had three and two times higher capture success and LASV prevalence, respectively, than Ebonyi State. This correlated with the higher number of annual cases of Lassa fever (LF) in Ondo State versus Ebonyi State. All rodent genera (Mastomys, Rattus, Crocidura, Mus, and Tatera) captured in both states showed slightly variable LASV positivity, with Rattus spp. being the most predominantly infected (77.3%) rodents in Ondo State versus Mastomys spp. (41.6%) in Ebonyi State. The tissues with the highest LASV positivity were the kidneys, spleen, and testes. The finding of a relatively high LASV prevalence in all of the rodent genera captured highlights the complex interspecies transmission dynamics of LASV infections in the reservoirs and their potential association with increased environmental contact, as well as the risk of zoonotic spillover in these communities, which have the highest prevalence of Lassa fever in Nigeria.",

keywords = "infected tissues, Lassa diagnosis, Lassa fever, Lassa virus, Nigeria, small rodents",

author = "Happi, {Anise N.} and Olumade, {Testimony J.} and Ogunsanya, {Olusola A.} and Sijuwola, {Ayotunde E.} and Ogunleye, {Seto C.} and Oguzie, {Judith U.} and Cecilia Nwofoke and Ugwu, {Chinedu A.} and Okoro, {Samuel J.} and Otuh, {Patricia I.} and Ngele, {Louis N.} and Ojo, {Oluwafemi O.} and Ademola Adelabu and Adeleye, {Roseline F.} and Oyejide, {Nicholas E.} and Njaka, {Clinton S.} and Heeney, {Jonathan L.} and Happi, {Christian T.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 Happi et al.",

year = "2022",

month = aug,

doi = "10.1128/spectrum.00366-22",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "10",

journal = "Microbiology Spectrum",

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T1 - Increased Prevalence of Lassa Fever Virus-Positive Rodents and Diversity of Infected Species Found during Human Lassa Fever Epidemics in Nigeria

AU - Happi, Anise N.

AU - Olumade, Testimony J.

AU - Ogunsanya, Olusola A.

AU - Sijuwola, Ayotunde E.

AU - Ogunleye, Seto C.

AU - Oguzie, Judith U.

AU - Nwofoke, Cecilia

AU - Ugwu, Chinedu A.

AU - Okoro, Samuel J.

AU - Otuh, Patricia I.

AU - Ngele, Louis N.

AU - Ojo, Oluwafemi O.

AU - Adelabu, Ademola

AU - Adeleye, Roseline F.

AU - Oyejide, Nicholas E.

AU - Njaka, Clinton S.

AU - Heeney, Jonathan L.

AU - Happi, Christian T.

PY - 2022/8

Y1 - 2022/8

N2 - The dynamics of Lassa virus (LASV) infections in rodent reservoirs and their endemic human caseloads remain poorly understood. During the endemic period, human infections are believed to be associated with the seasonal migration of Mastomys natalensis, thought to be the primary reservoir that triggers multiple spillovers of LASV to humans. It has become imperative to improve LASV diagnosis in rodents while updating their prevalence in two regions of Lassa fever endemicity in Nigeria. Rodents (total, 942) were trapped in Ondo (531) and Ebonyi (411) states between October 2018 and April 2020 for detection of LASV using various tissues. Overall, the LASV prevalence was 53.6%. The outbreak area sampled in Ondo had three and two times higher capture success and LASV prevalence, respectively, than Ebonyi State. This correlated with the higher number of annual cases of Lassa fever (LF) in Ondo State versus Ebonyi State. All rodent genera (Mastomys, Rattus, Crocidura, Mus, and Tatera) captured in both states showed slightly variable LASV positivity, with Rattus spp. being the most predominantly infected (77.3%) rodents in Ondo State versus Mastomys spp. (41.6%) in Ebonyi State. The tissues with the highest LASV positivity were the kidneys, spleen, and testes. The finding of a relatively high LASV prevalence in all of the rodent genera captured highlights the complex interspecies transmission dynamics of LASV infections in the reservoirs and their potential association with increased environmental contact, as well as the risk of zoonotic spillover in these communities, which have the highest prevalence of Lassa fever in Nigeria.

AB - The dynamics of Lassa virus (LASV) infections in rodent reservoirs and their endemic human caseloads remain poorly understood. During the endemic period, human infections are believed to be associated with the seasonal migration of Mastomys natalensis, thought to be the primary reservoir that triggers multiple spillovers of LASV to humans. It has become imperative to improve LASV diagnosis in rodents while updating their prevalence in two regions of Lassa fever endemicity in Nigeria. Rodents (total, 942) were trapped in Ondo (531) and Ebonyi (411) states between October 2018 and April 2020 for detection of LASV using various tissues. Overall, the LASV prevalence was 53.6%. The outbreak area sampled in Ondo had three and two times higher capture success and LASV prevalence, respectively, than Ebonyi State. This correlated with the higher number of annual cases of Lassa fever (LF) in Ondo State versus Ebonyi State. All rodent genera (Mastomys, Rattus, Crocidura, Mus, and Tatera) captured in both states showed slightly variable LASV positivity, with Rattus spp. being the most predominantly infected (77.3%) rodents in Ondo State versus Mastomys spp. (41.6%) in Ebonyi State. The tissues with the highest LASV positivity were the kidneys, spleen, and testes. The finding of a relatively high LASV prevalence in all of the rodent genera captured highlights the complex interspecies transmission dynamics of LASV infections in the reservoirs and their potential association with increased environmental contact, as well as the risk of zoonotic spillover in these communities, which have the highest prevalence of Lassa fever in Nigeria.

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KW - Lassa diagnosis

KW - Lassa fever

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KW - Nigeria

KW - small rodents

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Increased Prevalence of Lassa Fever Virus-Positive Rodents and Diversity of Infected Species Found during Human Lassa Fever Epidemics in Nigeria

Abstract

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