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Lassa fever in Benin: description of the 2014 and 2016 epidemics and genetic characterization of a new Lassa virus.

ABSTRACT: We report two outbreaks of Lassa fever that occurred in Benin in 2014 and 2016 with 20 confirmed cases and 50% (10/20) mortality. Benin was not previously considered to be an endemic country for Lassa fever, resulting in a delay to diagnose the disease and its human transmission. Molecular investigations showed the viral genomes to be similar to that of the Togo strain, which is genetically very different from other known strains and confirms the existence of a new lineage. Endemic circulation of Lassa virus in a new territory and the genetic diversity thus confirm that this virus represents a growing threat for West African people. Given the divergence of the Benin strain from the prototypic Josiah Sierra Leone strain frequently used to generate vaccine candidates, the efficacy of vaccine candidates should also be demonstrated with this strain.

SUBMITTER: Yadouleton A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7473144 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Lassa fever in Benin: description of the 2014 and 2016 epidemics and genetic characterization of a new Lassa virus.

Yadouleton Anges A Picard Caroline C Rieger Toni T Loko Frederic F Cadar Daniel D Kouthon Emile Cossi EC Job Emmanuel Obolli EO Bankolé Honoré H Oestereich Lisa L Gbaguidi Fernand F Pahlman Meike M Becker-Ziaja Beate B Journeaux Alexandra A Pannetier Delphine D Mély Stéphane S Mundweiler Stéphanie S Thomas Damien D Kohossi Leon L Saizonou Raoul R Kakaï Clement Glele CG Da Silva Magloire M Kossoubedie Sonia S Kakonku André Lukusa AL M'Pelé Pierre P Gunther Stephan S Baize Sylvain S Fichet-Calvet Elisabeth E

Emerging microbes & infections 20201201 1

We report two outbreaks of Lassa fever that occurred in Benin in 2014 and 2016 with 20 confirmed cases and 50% (10/20) mortality. Benin was not previously considered to be an endemic country for Lassa fever, resulting in a delay to diagnose the disease and its human transmission. Molecular investigations showed the viral genomes to be similar to that of the Togo strain, which is genetically very different from other known strains and confirms the existence of a new lineage. Endemic circulation o ...[more]

PMID: 32723007

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Project description: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. IMPORTANCE Our findings show the highest LASV positivity in small rodents ever recorded and the first direct detection of LASV in Tatera spp. Our findings also indicate the abundance of LASV-infected small rodents in houses, with probable interspecies transmission through vertical and horizontal coitus routes. Consequently, we suggest that the abundance of different reservoir species for LASV may fuel the epizootic outbreaks of LF in affected human communities. The high prevalence of LASV with the diversity of affected rodents has direct implications for our understanding of the transmission risk, mitigation, and ultimately, the prevention of LF in humans. Optimal tissues for LASV detection in rodents are also presented.

Dataset Information

Lassa fever in Benin: description of the 2014 and 2016 epidemics and genetic characterization of a new Lassa virus.

Publications

Lassa fever in Benin: description of the 2014 and 2016 epidemics and genetic characterization of a new Lassa virus.

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