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. 2014 Sep;14(9):665-74.
doi: 10.1089/vbz.2013.1484.

Lassa serology in natural populations of rodents and horizontal transmission

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Lassa serology in natural populations of rodents and horizontal transmission

Elisabeth Fichet-Calvet et al. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2014 Sep.

Abstract

Lassa virus causes hemorrhagic fever in West Africa. Previously, we demonstrated by PCR screening that only the multimammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis, hosts Lassa virus in Guinea. In the present study, we used the same specimen collection from 17 villages in Coastal, Upper, and Forest Guinea to investigate the Lassa virus serology in the rodent population. The aim was to determine the dynamics of antibody development in M. natalensis and to detect potential spillover infections in other rodent species. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody screening was performed using the indirect immunofluorescence assay with the Guinean Lassa virus strain Bantou 289 as antigen. The overall seroprevalence was 8% (129/1551) with the following rodents testing positive: 109 M. natalensis, seven Mastomys erythroleucus, four Lemniscomys striatus, four Praomys daltoni, three Mus minutoides, and two Praomys rostratus. Nearly all of them (122/129) originated from Bantou, Tanganya, and Gbetaya, where Lassa virus is highly endemic in M. natalensis. The antibody seroprevalence in M. natalensis from this high-endemic area (27%; 108/396) depended on the village, habitat, host age, and host abundance. A main positive factor was age; the maximum seroprevalence reached 50% in older animals. Our data fit with a model implicating that most M. natalensis rodents become horizontally infected, clear the virus within a period significantly shorter than their life span, and develop antibodies. In addition, the detection of antibodies in other species trapped in the habitats of M. natalensis suggests spillover infections.

Keywords: Horizontal transmission; Host age; IgG; Lassa virus–Antibodies; Lemniscomys; Mastomys; Mus; Praomys; Rodents; Tropics; West Africa.

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Figures

<b>FIG. 1.</b>
FIG. 1.
Trapping sites in Guinea and Mali. The 17 villages in which small mammals were trapped from October, 2002, to October, 2004, are marked on the map. The specimens from these sites were tested serologically in the present study. Geographical coordinates: Bamba (10°00′02′′N; 13°53′06′′W), Bantou (10°03′3′′N; 10°35′14′′W), Bhoita (08°05′13′′N; 08°54′50′′W), Franfina (09°38′43′′N; 08°56′44′′W), Gagal (11°05′1′′N; 12°17′51′′W), Gania (10°03′58′′N; 12°32′27′′W), Gbetaya (09°50′27′′N; 11°02′24′′W), Kaali (09°55′39′′N; 12°42′13′′W), Khoneya (10°08′53′′N; 12°40′33′′W), Kodoko (10°29′45′′N; 09°01′04′′W), Macenta (08°33′46′′N; 09°29′20′′W), Maikou (09°02′14′′N; 09°01′29′′W), Massakoroma (12°17′58′′N; 08°46′29′′W), Sangassou (08°36′49′′N; 09°28′27′′W), Saourou (11°30′42′′N; 09°00′36′′W), Tanganya (10°00′02′′N; 10°58′22′′W), Yafraya (10°00′43′′N; 13°40′44′′W).
<b>FIG. 2.</b>
FIG. 2.
Prevalence of Lassa virus (LASV)-specific antibodies and LASV prevalence in M. natalensis from high-endemic areas (n=396) depending on trapping session and village (Gb., Gbetaya). Sample size (N), number of seropositives, and LASV positives and double positives (sero+LASV) are given below the graphs for each trapping session. The numbers of LASV positive animals are from Fichet-Calvet et al. (2007). Error bars represent 95% confidence interval (CI).
<b>FIG. 3.</b>
FIG. 3.
Lassa virus (LASV) seroprevalence in M. natalensis from high-endemic area (n=396) depending on the eye lens weight (ELW) as a surrogate for the age of the animals. The prevalence was calculated for the ELW ranges (5–10 mg, 10–15 mg, 15–20 mg, 20–25 mg, 25–30 mg, and 30–38 mg) corresponding the approximate age classes <35 days, 35–60 days, 60–110 days, 110–190 days, 190–340 days, and 340–600 days, respectively. Age classes were adapted from Leirs (1994). Sample size (N), number of seropositives, and LASV positives and double positives (sero+LASV) are given below the graphs for each age class. Error bars represent 95% confidence interval (CI).
<b>FIG. 4.</b>
FIG. 4.
Two models for the dynamics of Lassa virus (LASV) spread in the M. natalensis population and the development of antibodies. An animal cohort is from birth to the age of 600 days. Infection of an animal by LASV is indicated by "V" in grey matrix fields, clearance of the virus and presence of antibodies by "a". Animal #1 (marked with *) is infected vertically; all other animals are infected after birth. Maternal antibodies transferred before birth are indicated with animals #17-20 ("a" in grey matrix fields). Prevalence of antibodies and LASV according to age classes and the corresponding ELW classes are shown below the matrix (prevalence is the absolute frequency of "V" or "a" divided by the number of animals). Age classes were adapted from Leirs (1994). The prevalences for virus and antibody per ELW class obtained from the simulation are shown together with the real data in the graph below the matrix. Data for antibody prevalence are from Fig. 3, and data for LASV prevalence in the same locality are from Fichet-Calvet et al. (2008). Model 2 is more complex, as it assumes a different duration of viremia depending on age. The final model parameters are given below the graph.

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