biostudies-literatureShepherd JGMedical Research CouncilWellcome Truste0012297https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11257405biostudies-literatureUnknown18(7)Le Dantec virus (LDV), assigned to the species Ledantevirus ledantec, genus Ledantevirus, family Rhabdoviridae has been associated with human disease but has gone undetected since the 1970s. We describe the detection of LDV in a human case of undifferentiated fever in Uganda by metagenomic sequencing and demonstrate a serological response using ELISA and pseudotype neutralisation. By screening 997 individuals sampled in 2016, we show frequent exposure to ledanteviruses with 76% of individuals seropositive in Western Uganda, but lower seroprevalence in other areas. Serological cross-reactivity as measured by pseudotype-based neutralisation was confined to ledanteviruses, indicating population seropositivity may represent either exposure to LDV or related ledanteviruses. We also describe thePLoS neglected tropical diseasesWidespread human exposure to ledanteviruses in Uganda: A population study.PMC11257405MC_UU_12014/8102789/Z/13/ZMC_ST_U17020MC_UU_00033/2217221/Z/19/ZMpanga JTDowning RGThomson ECTibo EWillett BJSreenu VBKaleebu PJackson Ireland HDavis COlowo MVBukenya HBlunsum AEJerome HBwogi JSalazar MGda Silva Filipe AOwolabi ILogan NLutwama JJMungujakisa CTong LSalazar-Gonzalez JFWunna FAtiku LAAshraf SStreicker DGMukobi YShepherd JGKajik EfalseWidespread human exposure to ledanteviruses in Uganda: A population study.Le Dantec virus (LDV), assigned to the species Ledantevirus ledantec, genus Ledantevirus, family Rhabdoviridae has been associated with human disease but has gone undetected since the 1970s. We describe the detection of LDV in a human case of undifferentiated fever in Uganda by metagenomic sequencing and demonstrate a serological response using ELISA and pseudotype neutralisation. By screening 997 individuals sampled in 2016, we show frequent exposure to ledanteviruses with 76% of individuals seropositive in Western Uganda, but lower seroprevalence in other areas. Serological cross-reactivity as measured by pseudotype-based neutralisation was confined to ledanteviruses, indicating population seropositivity may represent either exposure to LDV or related ledanteviruses. We also describe the2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Jul2026-06-01T16:29:56.254Z2025-04-04T14:47:07.984ZS-EPMC112574053897676010.1371/journal.pntd.0012297