Pathological Insights into Lassa Virus-Induced Vestibular Dysfunction in Mice: Histopathological Analysis of the Inner Ear Vestibular Apparatus

Lassa fever (LF), caused by Lassa virus (LASV) infection, typically leads to mild symptoms in humans, but some survivors experience audiovestibular problems. Here we present vestibular histopathological insights in our LF model mice. We observed (1) hemorrhage within the vestibular ganglion and stroma beneath the sensory epithelium, (2) preserved hair cells and supporting cells, (3) LASV antigen presence in the vestibular ganglion cells and the stroma beneath the sensory epithelium, and (4) CD3-positive T-lymphocyte infiltration in the vestibular ganglion and the stroma underlying the sensory epithelium. LASV and/or its immune response likely contributes to the pathogenesis of vestibular dysfunction.