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Mariën J, Sage M, Bangura U, Lamé A, Koropogui M, Rieger T, Soropogui B, Douno M, Magassouba N, Fichet-Calvet E. Rodent control strategies and Lassa virus: some unexpected effects in Guinea, West Africa. Emerg Microbes Infect 2024; 13:2341141. [PMID: 38597241 PMCID: PMC11034454 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2024.2341141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
The Natal multimammate mouse (Mastomys natalensis) is the host of Lassa mammarenavirus, causing Lassa haemorrhagic fever in West Africa. As there is currently no operational vaccine and therapeutic drugs are limited, we explored rodent control as an alternative to prevent Lassa virus spillover in Upper Guinea, where the disease is highly endemic in rural areas. In a seven-year experiment, we distributed rodenticides for 10-30 days once a year and, in the last year, added intensive snap trapping for three months in all the houses of one village. We also captured rodents both before and after the intervention period to assess their effectiveness by examining alterations in trapping success and infection rates (Lassa virus RNA and IgG antibodies). We found that both interventions reduced the rodent population by 74-92% but swiftly rebounded to pre-treatment levels, even already six months after the last snap-trapping control. Furthermore, while we observed that chemical control modestly decreased Lassa virus infection rates annually (a reduction of 5% in seroprevalence per year), the intensive trapping unexpectedly led to a significantly higher infection rate (from a seroprevalence of 28% before to 67% after snap trapping control). After seven years, we conclude that annual chemical control, alone or with intensive trapping, is ineffective and sometimes counterproductive in preventing Lassa virus spillover in rural villages. These unexpected findings may result from density-dependent breeding compensation following culling and the survival of a small percentage of chronically infected rodents that may spread the virus to a new susceptible generation of mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Mariën
- Evolutionary Ecology group, Department of Biology University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Virus Ecology unit, Department of Biomedical sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Mickaël Sage
- Faune INNOV’ R&D – Wildlife INNOVATION, Besançon, France
| | - Umaru Bangura
- Implementation Research, Zoonoses Control group, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Alicia Lamé
- Faune INNOV’ R&D – Wildlife INNOVATION, Besançon, France
| | - Michel Koropogui
- Projet des fièvres Hémorragiques en Guinée, Laboratoire de Virologie, Conakry, Guinea
| | - Toni Rieger
- Department of Virology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Barré Soropogui
- Projet des fièvres Hémorragiques en Guinée, Laboratoire de Virologie, Conakry, Guinea
| | - Moussa Douno
- Projet des fièvres Hémorragiques en Guinée, Laboratoire de Virologie, Conakry, Guinea
| | - N’Faly Magassouba
- Projet des fièvres Hémorragiques en Guinée, Laboratoire de Virologie, Conakry, Guinea
| | - Elisabeth Fichet-Calvet
- Implementation Research, Zoonoses Control group, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
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2
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Olayemi A, Schmid DW, Fleischer R, Wilhelm K, Heni AC, Mueller-Klein N, Haikukutu L, Fichet-Calvet E, Günther S, Sommer S. MHC-I alleles mediate clearance and antibody response to the zoonotic Lassa virus in Mastomys rodent reservoirs. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0011984. [PMID: 38421939 PMCID: PMC10903922 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
West African Mastomys rodents are the primary reservoir of the zoonotic Lassa virus (LASV). The virus causes haemorrhagic Lassa fever and considerable mortality in humans. To date, the role of Mastomys immunogenetics in resistance to, and persistence of, LASV infections is largely unknown. Here, we investigated the role of Major Histocompatibility Complex class I (MHC-I) on LASV infection status (i.e., active vs. cleared infection, determined via PCR and an immunofluorescence assay on IgG antibodies, respectively) in Mastomys natalensis and M. erythroleucus sampled within southwestern Nigeria. We identified more than 190 and 90 MHC-I alleles by Illumina high throughput-sequencing in M. natalensis and M. erythroleucus, respectively, with different MHC allele compositions and frequencies between LASV endemic and non-endemic sites. In M. natalensis, the MHC allele ManaMHC-I*006 was negatively associated with active infections (PCR-positive) and positively associated with cleared infections (IgG-positive) simultaneously, suggesting efficient immune responses that facilitate LASV clearance in animals carrying this allele. Contrarily, alleles ManaMHC-I*008 and ManaMHC-I*021 in M. natalensis, and MaerMHC-I*008 in M. erythroleucus, were positively associated with active infection, implying susceptibility. Alleles associated with susceptibility shared a glutamic acid at the positively selected codon 57, while ManaMHC-I*006 featured an arginine. There was no link between number of MHC alleles per Mastomys individual and LASV prevalence. Thus, specific alleles, but not MHC diversity per se, seem to mediate antibody responses to viremia. We conclude that co-evolution with LASV likely shaped the MHC-I diversity of the main LASV reservoirs in southwestern Nigeria, and that information on reservoir immunogenetics may hold insights into transmission dynamics and zoonotic spillover risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayodeji Olayemi
- Natural History Museum, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Dominik Werner Schmid
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Ramona Fleischer
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Kerstin Wilhelm
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Nadine Mueller-Klein
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Lavinia Haikukutu
- Department of Wildlife Management, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania
| | - Elisabeth Fichet-Calvet
- Department of Zoonoses Control, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Stephan Günther
- Department of Virology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Simone Sommer
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
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3
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Cadmus S, Taiwo OJ, Akinseye V, Cadmus E, Famokun G, Fagbemi S, Ansumana R, Omoluabi A, Ayinmode A, Oluwayelu D, Odemuyiwa S, Tomori O. Ecological correlates and predictors of Lassa fever incidence in Ondo State, Nigeria 2017-2021: an emerging urban trend. Sci Rep 2023; 13:20855. [PMID: 38012226 PMCID: PMC10682180 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47820-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Lassa fever (LF) is prevalent in many West African countries, including Nigeria. Efforts to combat LF have primarily focused on rural areas where interactions between rodents and humans are common. However, recent studies indicate a shift in its occurrence from rural to urban areas. We analysed secondary data of reported LF outbreaks from 2017 to 2021 in Ondo State, Nigeria to identify the distribution pattern, ecological variations, and other determinants of disease spread from the ward level using nearest neighbour statistics and regression analysis. Data utilised include LF incidence, ecological variables involving population, nighttime light intensity, vegetation, temperature, market presence, road length, and building area coverage. ArcGIS Pro 3.0 software was employed for spatial analysis. Results revealed spatio-temporal clustering of LF incidents between 2017 and 2021, with an increasing trend followed by a decline in 2021. All wards in Owo Local Government Area were identified as LF hotspots. The ecological variables exhibited significant correlations with the number of LF cases in the wards, except for maximum temperature. Notably, these variables varied significantly between wards with confirmed LF and those without. Therefore, it is important to prioritise strategies for mitigating LF outbreaks in urban areas of Nigeria and other LF-endemic countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simeon Cadmus
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
- Damien Foundation Genomics and Mycobacteria Research and Training Centre, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
- Centre for Control and Prevention of Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
| | | | - Victor Akinseye
- Damien Foundation Genomics and Mycobacteria Research and Training Centre, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Augustine University, Ilara-Epe, Lagos State, Nigeria
| | - Eniola Cadmus
- Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | - Gboyega Famokun
- Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, Ondo State Ministry of Health, Ondo State, Nigeria
| | - Stephen Fagbemi
- Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, Ondo State Ministry of Health, Ondo State, Nigeria
| | - Rashid Ansumana
- School of Community Health Sciences, Njala University, Bo, Sierra Leone
| | | | - Adekunle Ayinmode
- Centre for Control and Prevention of Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | - Daniel Oluwayelu
- Centre for Control and Prevention of Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | - Solomon Odemuyiwa
- Centre for Control and Prevention of Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Oyewale Tomori
- African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Redeemer's University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
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AROMOLARAN OLUKEMI, SAMSON TIMOTHYKAYODE, FALODUN OLUTAYOISRAEL. Knowledge and practices associated with Lassa fever in rural Nigeria: Implications for prevention and control. J Public Health Afr 2023; 14:2001. [PMID: 37908393 PMCID: PMC10615167 DOI: 10.4081/jphia.2023.2001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Lassa fever (LF) is a haemorrhagic illness endemic in West Africa, which can be attributed to poor rat control and poor sanitation, especially in the rural communities. Increasing awareness and education about LF has been advocated for its prevention and control. This study investigated the level of awareness and knowledge associated with LF among the residents of Iwo and Oluponna areas of Osun State, southwest Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among the adult residents using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used in analysing the data. In total, 534 (79.11%) respondents had heard about LF, but only 15.4% had good knowledge of the disease. Their main source of information was the media (46.3%, P=0.002, P<0.01), while only 21.2% got information from health workers. About 45% of respondents have rats in their houses. Respondents from Iwo were better informed than Oluponna. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated location to be significantly associated with awareness (OR=1.62, C.I=1.078-2.433, P<0.05), knowledge of prevention (OR=5.88, C.I=2.807-12.317, P=0.000, P<0.01) and treatment (OR=1.648, C.I=1.122-2.420, P=0.011, P<0.05). Although the residents of Iwo are better informed about LF than Oluponna residents, the knowledge of the disease is poor in both areas. Health workers should be well informed, and the government should increase enlightenment programmes about LF, especially in rural communities of Nigeria, so as to curtail the spread and prevent outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - TIMOTHY KAYODE SAMSON
- Statistics Programme, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, Bowen University, Iwo
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5
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Broecke BV, Tafompa PJJ, Mwamundela BE, Bernaerts L, Ribas A, Mnyone LL, Leirs H, Mariën J. Drivers behind co-occurrence patterns between pathogenic bacteria, protozoa, and helminths in populations of the multimammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis. Acta Trop 2023; 243:106939. [PMID: 37156346 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.106939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Advances in experimental and theoretical work increasingly suggest that parasite interactions within a single host can affect the spread and severity of wildlife diseases. Yet empirical data to support predicted co-infection patterns are limited due to the practical challenges of gathering convincing data from animal populations and the stochastic nature of parasite transmission. Here, we investigated co-infection patterns between micro- (bacteria and protozoa) and macroparasites (gastro-intestinal helminths) in natural populations of the multimammate mouse (Mastomys natalensis). Fieldwork was performed in Morogoro (Tanzania), where we trapped 211 M. natalensis and tested their behaviour using a modified open-field arena. All animals were checked for the presence of helminths in their gastro-intestinal tract, three bacteria (Anaplasma, Bartonella, and Borrelia) and two protozoan genera (Babesia and Hepatozoon). Besides the presence of eight different helminth genera (reported earlier), we found that 21% of M. natalensis were positive for Anaplasma, 13% for Bartonella, and 2% for Hepatozoon species. Hierarchical modelling of species communities was used to investigate the effect of the different host-related factors on these parasites' infection probability and community structure. Our results show that the infection probability of Bartonella increased with the host's age, while the infection probability of Anaplasma peaked when individuals reached adulthood. We also observed that less explorative and stress-sensitive individuals had a higher infection probability with Bartonella. Finally, we found limited support for within-host interactions between micro-and macroparasites, as most co-infection patterns could be attributed to host exposure time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bram Vanden Broecke
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | | | - Lisse Bernaerts
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Alexis Ribas
- Parasitology Section, Department of Biology, Healthcare and Environment, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ladslaus L Mnyone
- Institute of Pest Management, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania
| | - Herwig Leirs
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Joachim Mariën
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Biology, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium.
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6
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Mateo M, Reynard S, Pietrosemoli N, Perthame E, Journeaux A, Noy K, Germain C, Carnec X, Picard C, Borges-Cardoso V, Hortion J, Lopez-Maestre H, Regnard P, Fellmann L, Vallve A, Barron S, Jourjon O, Lacroix O, Duthey A, Dirheimer M, Daniau M, Legras-Lachuer C, Carbonnelle C, Raoul H, Tangy F, Baize S. Rapid protection induced by a single-shot Lassa vaccine in male cynomolgus monkeys. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1352. [PMID: 36906645 PMCID: PMC10008018 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37050-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Lassa fever hits West African countries annually in the absence of licensed vaccine to limit the burden of this viral hemorrhagic fever. We previously developed MeV-NP, a single-shot vaccine protecting cynomolgus monkeys against divergent strains one month or more than a year before Lassa virus infection. Given the limited dissemination area during outbreaks and the risk of nosocomial transmission, a vaccine inducing rapid protection could be useful to protect exposed people during outbreaks in the absence of preventive vaccination. Here, we test whether the time to protection can be reduced after immunization by challenging measles virus pre-immune male cynomolgus monkeys sixteen or eight days after a single shot of MeV-NP. None of the immunized monkeys develop disease and they rapidly control viral replication. Animals immunized eight days before the challenge are the best controllers, producing a strong CD8 T-cell response against the viral glycoprotein. A group of animals was also vaccinated one hour after the challenge, but was not protected and succumbed to the disease as the control animals. This study demonstrates that MeV-NP can induce a rapid protective immune response against Lassa fever in the presence of MeV pre-existing immunity but can likely not be used as therapeutic vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Mateo
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, 69007, Lyon, France.,Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI), Université de Lyon, INSERM U1111, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, 69007, Lyon, France
| | - Stéphanie Reynard
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, 69007, Lyon, France.,Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI), Université de Lyon, INSERM U1111, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, 69007, Lyon, France
| | - Natalia Pietrosemoli
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Hub, Paris, France
| | - Emeline Perthame
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Hub, Paris, France
| | - Alexandra Journeaux
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, 69007, Lyon, France.,Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI), Université de Lyon, INSERM U1111, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, 69007, Lyon, France
| | - Kodie Noy
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, 69007, Lyon, France.,Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI), Université de Lyon, INSERM U1111, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, 69007, Lyon, France
| | - Clara Germain
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, 69007, Lyon, France.,Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI), Université de Lyon, INSERM U1111, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, 69007, Lyon, France
| | - Xavier Carnec
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, 69007, Lyon, France.,Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI), Université de Lyon, INSERM U1111, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, 69007, Lyon, France
| | - Caroline Picard
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, 69007, Lyon, France.,Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI), Université de Lyon, INSERM U1111, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, 69007, Lyon, France
| | - Virginie Borges-Cardoso
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, 69007, Lyon, France.,Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI), Université de Lyon, INSERM U1111, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, 69007, Lyon, France
| | - Jimmy Hortion
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, 69007, Lyon, France.,Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI), Université de Lyon, INSERM U1111, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, 69007, Lyon, France
| | - Hélène Lopez-Maestre
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Hub, Paris, France
| | - Pierrick Regnard
- SILABE, Université de Strasbourg, fort Foch, Niederhausbergen, France
| | - Lyne Fellmann
- SILABE, Université de Strasbourg, fort Foch, Niederhausbergen, France
| | - Audrey Vallve
- Laboratoire P4 INSERM - Jean Mérieux, INSERM US003, 69007, Lyon, France
| | - Stéphane Barron
- Laboratoire P4 INSERM - Jean Mérieux, INSERM US003, 69007, Lyon, France
| | - Ophélie Jourjon
- Laboratoire P4 INSERM - Jean Mérieux, INSERM US003, 69007, Lyon, France
| | - Orianne Lacroix
- Laboratoire P4 INSERM - Jean Mérieux, INSERM US003, 69007, Lyon, France
| | - Aurélie Duthey
- Laboratoire P4 INSERM - Jean Mérieux, INSERM US003, 69007, Lyon, France
| | - Manon Dirheimer
- INSERM, Délégation Régionale Auvergne Rhône-Alpes, 69500, Bron, France
| | | | | | | | - Hervé Raoul
- Laboratoire P4 INSERM - Jean Mérieux, INSERM US003, 69007, Lyon, France
| | - Frédéric Tangy
- Vaccine Innovation Laboratory, Institut Pasteur, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Sylvain Baize
- Unité de Biologie des Infections Virales Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, 69007, Lyon, France. .,Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI), Université de Lyon, INSERM U1111, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, 69007, Lyon, France.
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7
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Millimouno TM, Meessen B, Put WVD, Garcia M, Camara BS, Christou A, Delvaux T, Sidibé S, Beavogui AH, Delamou A. How has Guinea learnt from the response to outbreaks? A learning health system analysis. BMJ Glob Health 2023; 8:bmjgh-2022-010996. [PMID: 36854489 PMCID: PMC9980363 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2022-010996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Learning is a key attribute of a resilient health system and, therefore, is central to health system strengthening. The main objective of this study was to analyse how Guinea's health system has learnt from the response to outbreaks between 2014 and 2021. METHODS We used a retrospective longitudinal single embedded case study design, applying the framework conceptualised by Sheikh and Abimbola for analysing learning health systems. Data were collected employing a mixed methods systematic review carried out in March 2022 and an online survey conducted in April 2022. RESULTS The 70 reports included in the evidence synthesis were about the 2014-2016 Ebola virus disease (EVD), Measles, Lassa Fever, COVID-19, 2021 EVD and Marburg virus disease. The main lessons were from 2014 to 2016 EVD and included: early community engagement in the response, social mobilisation, prioritising investment in health personnel, early involvement of anthropologists, developing health infrastructure and equipment and ensuring crisis communication. They were learnt through information (research and experts' opinions), action/practice and double-loop and were progressively incorporated in the response to future outbreaks through deliberation, single-loop, double-loop and triple-loop learning. However, advanced learning aspects (learning through action, double-loop and triple-loop) were limited within the health system. Nevertheless, the health system successfully controlled COVID-19, the 2021 EVD and Marburg virus disease. Survey respondents' commonly reported that enablers were the creation of the national agency for health security and support from development partners. Barriers included cultural and political issues and lack of funding. Common recommendations included establishing a knowledge management unit within the Ministry of Health with representatives at regional and district levels, investing in human capacities and improving the governance and management system. CONCLUSION Our study highlights the importance of learning. The health system performed well and achieved encouraging and better outbreak response outcomes over time with learning that occurred.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamba Mina Millimouno
- Research Section, Centre National de Formation et de Recherche en Santé Rurale de Maferinyah, Forécariah, Guinea .,Centre d'Excellence d'Afrique pour la Prévention et le Contrôle des Maladies Transmissibles (CEA-PCMT), Conakry, Guinea
| | - Bruno Meessen
- Health Systems Governance and Financing Department, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Willem Van De Put
- Public Health Department, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Marlon Garcia
- Public Health Department, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Bienvenu Salim Camara
- Research Section, Centre National de Formation et de Recherche en Santé Rurale de Maferinyah, Forécariah, Guinea
| | - Aliki Christou
- Public Health Department, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Therese Delvaux
- Public Health Department, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Sidikiba Sidibé
- Research Section, Centre National de Formation et de Recherche en Santé Rurale de Maferinyah, Forécariah, Guinea.,Centre d'Excellence d'Afrique pour la Prévention et le Contrôle des Maladies Transmissibles (CEA-PCMT), Conakry, Guinea
| | - Abdoul Habib Beavogui
- Research Section, Centre National de Formation et de Recherche en Santé Rurale de Maferinyah, Forécariah, Guinea
| | - Alexandre Delamou
- Research Section, Centre National de Formation et de Recherche en Santé Rurale de Maferinyah, Forécariah, Guinea.,Centre d'Excellence d'Afrique pour la Prévention et le Contrôle des Maladies Transmissibles (CEA-PCMT), Conakry, Guinea
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8
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Grant DS, Engel EJ, Roberts Yerkes N, Kanneh L, Koninga J, Gbakie MA, Alhasan F, Kanneh FB, Kanneh IM, Kamara FK, Momoh M, Yillah MS, Foday M, Okoli A, Zeoli A, Weldon C, Bishop CM, Zheng C, Hartnett J, Chao K, Shore K, Melnik LI, Mucci M, Bond NG, Doyle P, Yenni R, Podgorski R, Ficenec SC, Moses L, Shaffer JG, Garry RF, Schieffelin JS. Seroprevalence of anti-Lassa Virus IgG antibodies in three districts of Sierra Leone: A cross-sectional, population-based study. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0010938. [PMID: 36758101 PMCID: PMC9946222 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lassa virus (LASV), the cause of the acute viral hemorrhagic illness Lassa fever (LF), is endemic in West Africa. Infections in humans occur mainly after exposure to infected excrement or urine of the rodent-host, Mastomys natalensis. The prevalence of exposure to LASV in Sierra Leone is crudely estimated and largely unknown. This cross-sectional study aimed to establish a baseline point seroprevalence of IgG antibodies to LASV in three administrative districts of Sierra Leone and identify potential risk factors for seropositivity and LASV exposure. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Between 2015 and 2018, over 10,642 participants from Kenema, Tonkolili, and Port Loko Districts were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Previous LASV and LF epidemiological studies support classification of these districts as "endemic," "emerging," and "non-endemic", respectively. Dried blood spot samples were tested for LASV antibodies by ELISA to determine the seropositivity of participants, indicating previous exposure to LASV. Surveys were administered to each participant to assess demographic and environmental factors associated with a higher risk of exposure to LASV. Overall seroprevalence for antibodies to LASV was 16.0%. In Kenema, Port Loko, and Tonkolili Districts, seroprevalences were 20.1%, 14.1%, and 10.6%, respectively. In a multivariate analysis, individuals were more likely to be LASV seropositive if they were living in Kenema District, regardless of sex, age, or occupation. Environmental factors contributed to an increased risk of LASV exposure, including poor housing construction and proximity to bushland, forested areas, and refuse. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE In this study we determine a baseline LASV seroprevalence in three districts which will inform future epidemiological, ecological, and clinical studies on LF and the LASV in Sierra Leone. The heterogeneity of the distribution of LASV and LF over both space, and time, can make the design of efficacy trials and intervention programs difficult. Having more studies on the prevalence of LASV and identifying potential hyper-endemic areas will greatly increase the awareness of LF and improve targeted control programs related to LASV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donald S. Grant
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
- College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Emily J. Engel
- Department of Pediatrics, Sections of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Nicole Roberts Yerkes
- Department of Pediatrics, Sections of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Lansana Kanneh
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - James Koninga
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Michael A. Gbakie
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Foday Alhasan
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Franklyn B. Kanneh
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Ibrahim Mustapha Kanneh
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Fatima K. Kamara
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Mambu Momoh
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
- Eastern Technical University of Sierra Leone, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Mohamed S. Yillah
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Momoh Foday
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Adaora Okoli
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Ashley Zeoli
- Department of Pediatrics, Sections of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Caroline Weldon
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Christopher M. Bishop
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Crystal Zheng
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Jessica Hartnett
- Department of Pediatrics, Sections of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Karissa Chao
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Kayla Shore
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Lilia I. Melnik
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Mallory Mucci
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Nell G. Bond
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Philip Doyle
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Rachael Yenni
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Rachel Podgorski
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Samuel C. Ficenec
- Department of Internal Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Lina Moses
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey G. Shaffer
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Robert F. Garry
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - John S. Schieffelin
- Department of Pediatrics, Sections of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
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9
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Abstract
Individuals living in endemic hotspots of Lassa fever have recurrent exposure to Lassa virus (LASV) via spillover from the primary host reservoir Mastomys natalensis. Despite M. natalensis being broadly distributed across sub-Saharan Africa, Lassa fever is only found in West Africa. In recent years, new LASV reservoirs have been identified. Erudition of rodent habitats, reproduction and fecundity, movement patterns, and spatial preferences are essential to institute preventative measures against Lassa fever. Evolutionary insights have also added to our knowledge of closely related mammarenavirus distribution amongst rodents throughout the continent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison R Smither
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.
| | - Antoinette R Bell-Kareem
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
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10
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Etougbétché JR, Hamidović A, Dossou HJ, Coan-Grosso M, Roques R, Plault N, Houéménou G, Badou S, Missihoun AA, Abdou Karim IY, Galal L, Diagne C, Dardé ML, Dobigny G, Mercier A. Molecular prevalence, genetic characterization and patterns of Toxoplasma gondii infection in domestic small mammals from Cotonou, Benin. Parasite 2022; 29:58. [PMID: 36562439 PMCID: PMC9879161 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2022058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis, one of the most prevalent parasitic infections in humans and animals, is caused by the intracellular protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Small mammals play a key role as intermediate reservoir hosts in the maintenance of the T. gondii life cycle. In this study, we estimated the molecular prevalence and provide genetic diversity data for T. gondii in 632 small mammals sampled in four areas of Cotonou city, Benin. Both the brain and heart of each individual were screened through T. gondii-targeting qPCR, and positive samples were then genotyped using a set of 15 T. gondii-specific microsatellites. Prevalence data were statistically analyzed in order to assess the relative impact of individual host characteristics, spatial distribution, composition of small mammal community, and urban landscape features. An overall T. gondii molecular prevalence of 15.2% was found and seven genotypes, all belonging to the Africa 1 lineage, could be retrieved from the invasive black rat Rattus rattus and the native African giant shrew Crocidura olivieri. Statistical analyses did not suggest any significant influence of the environmental parameters used in this study. Rather, depending on the local context, T. gondii prevalence appeared to be associated either with black rat, shrew, or mouse abundance or with the trapping period. Overall, our results highlight the intricate relationships between biotic and abiotic factors involved in T. gondii epidemiology and suggest that R. rattus and C. olivieri are two competent reservoirs for the Africa 1 lineage, a widespread lineage in tropical Africa and the predominant lineage in Benin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas R. Etougbétché
- Ecole Polytechnique d’Abomey-Calavi, Laboratoire de Recherche en Biologie Appliquée, Unité de Recherche sur les Invasions Biologiques, Université d’Abomey-Calavi 01 BP 2009 Cotonou Benin,Laboratoire de Génétique Moléculaire et d’Analyse des Génomes, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université d’Abomey-Calavi 01BP 526 Cotonou Bénin,Corresponding authors: ;
| | - Azra Hamidović
- Inserm U1094, IRD U270, Univ. Limoges, CHU Limoges, EpiMaCT - Epidémiologie des maladies chroniques en zone tropicale, Institut d’Epidémiologie et de Neurologie Tropicale, Omega Health 87000 Limoges France
| | - Henri-Joël Dossou
- Ecole Polytechnique d’Abomey-Calavi, Laboratoire de Recherche en Biologie Appliquée, Unité de Recherche sur les Invasions Biologiques, Université d’Abomey-Calavi 01 BP 2009 Cotonou Benin,Institut du Cadre de Vie (ICaV), Université d’Abomey-Calavi BP 2899 Abomey-Calavi Benin
| | - Maeva Coan-Grosso
- Inserm U1094, IRD U270, Univ. Limoges, CHU Limoges, EpiMaCT - Epidémiologie des maladies chroniques en zone tropicale, Institut d’Epidémiologie et de Neurologie Tropicale, Omega Health 87000 Limoges France
| | - Roxane Roques
- Inserm U1094, IRD U270, Univ. Limoges, CHU Limoges, EpiMaCT - Epidémiologie des maladies chroniques en zone tropicale, Institut d’Epidémiologie et de Neurologie Tropicale, Omega Health 87000 Limoges France
| | - Nicolas Plault
- Inserm U1094, IRD U270, Univ. Limoges, CHU Limoges, EpiMaCT - Epidémiologie des maladies chroniques en zone tropicale, Institut d’Epidémiologie et de Neurologie Tropicale, Omega Health 87000 Limoges France
| | - Gualbert Houéménou
- Ecole Polytechnique d’Abomey-Calavi, Laboratoire de Recherche en Biologie Appliquée, Unité de Recherche sur les Invasions Biologiques, Université d’Abomey-Calavi 01 BP 2009 Cotonou Benin
| | - Sylvestre Badou
- Ecole Polytechnique d’Abomey-Calavi, Laboratoire de Recherche en Biologie Appliquée, Unité de Recherche sur les Invasions Biologiques, Université d’Abomey-Calavi 01 BP 2009 Cotonou Benin
| | - Antoine A. Missihoun
- Laboratoire de Génétique Moléculaire et d’Analyse des Génomes, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université d’Abomey-Calavi 01BP 526 Cotonou Bénin
| | - Issaka Youssao Abdou Karim
- Ecole Polytechnique d’Abomey-Calavi, Laboratoire de Biotechnologie Animale et de Technologie des Viandes, Université d’Abomey-Calavi 01 BP 2009 Cotonou Benin
| | - Lokman Galal
- Inserm U1094, IRD U270, Univ. Limoges, CHU Limoges, EpiMaCT - Epidémiologie des maladies chroniques en zone tropicale, Institut d’Epidémiologie et de Neurologie Tropicale, Omega Health 87000 Limoges France
| | - Christophe Diagne
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR CBGP (IRD, INRA, Cirad, Montpellier SupAgro), Montpellier Université d’Excellence 755 avenue du campus Agropolis 34988 Montferrier-sur-Lez Cedex France
| | - Marie-Laure Dardé
- Inserm U1094, IRD U270, Univ. Limoges, CHU Limoges, EpiMaCT - Epidémiologie des maladies chroniques en zone tropicale, Institut d’Epidémiologie et de Neurologie Tropicale, Omega Health 87000 Limoges France,Centre National de Référence (CNR) Toxoplasmose/Toxoplasma Biological Center (BRC), Centre Hospitalier-Universitaire Dupuytren 87000 Limoges France
| | - Gauthier Dobigny
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR CBGP (IRD, INRA, Cirad, Montpellier SupAgro), Montpellier Université d’Excellence 755 avenue du campus Agropolis 34988 Montferrier-sur-Lez Cedex France,Unité Peste, Institut Pasteur de Madagascar BP 1274 Ambatofotsikely Avaradoha 101 Antananarivo Madagascar
| | - Aurélien Mercier
- Inserm U1094, IRD U270, Univ. Limoges, CHU Limoges, EpiMaCT - Epidémiologie des maladies chroniques en zone tropicale, Institut d’Epidémiologie et de Neurologie Tropicale, Omega Health 87000 Limoges France,Centre National de Référence (CNR) Toxoplasmose/Toxoplasma Biological Center (BRC), Centre Hospitalier-Universitaire Dupuytren 87000 Limoges France
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11
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Postigo-Hidalgo I, Magassouba N, Soropogui B, Fichet-Calvet E, Drexler JF. Association of Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 2 Spread With Historic Slave Trade and Commerce Routes in Western Africa. Virus Evol 2022; 8:veac066. [DOI: 10.1093/ve/veac066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
The hepatitis C virus genotype 2 (HCV2) is endemic in Western and Central Africa. The HCV2 evolutionary origins remain uncertain due to the paucity of available genomes from African settings. In this study, we investigated the molecular epidemiology of HCV infections in rural Guinea, Western Africa, during 2004 and 2014. Broadly reactive nested RT-PCR-based screening of sera from 1,571 asymptomatic adults resulted in the detection of 25 (1.5%, 95% CI 0.9-2.3) positive samples, with a median viral load of 2.54E+05 IU/mL (IQR 6.72E+05). HCV-infected persons had a median age of 47 years and 62.5% were male and 37.5% female. The full polyprotein-encoding genes were retrieved by a combination of high throughput and Sanger sequencing from 17 samples showing sufficiently high viral loads. Phylogenetic analysis and sequence distances ≥13% averaged over the polyprotein genes compared to other HCV2 subtypes revealed 9 previously unknown HCV2 subtypes. The time to the most recent common ancestor of the Guinean HCV2 strains inferred in a Bayesian framework was 493 years (95% HPD 453-532). Most of the Guinean strains clustered poorly by location both on the level of sampling sites within Guinea and the level of countries in the phylogenetic reconstructions. Ancestral state reconstruction provided decisive support (Bayes factor >100) for an origin of HCV2 in Western Africa. Phylogeographic reconstructions in a Bayesian framework pointed to a radial diffusion of HCV2 from Western African regions encompassing today’s countries like Ghana, Guinea Bissau, or Burkina Faso, to Central and Northern African regions that took place from the 16th century onwards. The spread of HCV2 coincided in time and space with the main historic slave trade and commerce routes, supported by Bayesian tip-association significance testing (p = 0.01). Our study confirms the evolutionary origins of HCV2 in Western Africa and provides a potential link between historic human movements and HCV2 dispersion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Postigo-Hidalgo
- Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Virology , Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Barré Soropogui
- Laboratoire du Projet des Fièvres Hémorragiques de Guinée (PFHG) , Conakry, Guinea
| | | | - Jan Felix Drexler
- Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Virology , Berlin, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Associated partner site Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin , Germany
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12
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Soubrier H, Bangura U, Hoffmann C, Olayemi A, Adesina AS, Günther S, Oestereich L, Fichet-Calvet E. Detection of Lassa Virus-Reactive IgG Antibodies in Wild Rodents: Validation of a Capture Enzyme-Linked Immunological Assay. Viruses 2022; 14:v14050993. [PMID: 35632733 PMCID: PMC9147821 DOI: 10.3390/v14050993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of a capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of LASV-reactive IgG antibodies in Mastomys rodents. The assay was used for laboratory-bred Mastomys rodents, as well as for animals caught in the wild in various regions of West Africa. The ELISA reached an accuracy of 97.1% in samples of known exposure, and a comparison to an immunofluorescence assay (IFA) revealed a very strong agreement between the ELISA and IFA results (Cohen’s kappa of 0.81). The agreement is valid in Nigeria, and in Guinea and Sierra Leone where the lineages II and IV are circulating, respectively. Altogether, these results indicate that this capture ELISA is suitable for LASV IgG serostatus determination in Mastomys rodents as an alternative to IFA. This assay will be a strong, accurate, and semi-quantitative alternative for rodent seroprevalence studies that does not depend on biosafety level 4 infrastructures, providing great benefits for ecology and epidemiology studies of Lassa fever, a disease listed on the Research and Development Blueprint of the WHO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Soubrier
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; (U.B.); (C.H.); (S.G.); (L.O.)
- Correspondence: (H.S.); (E.F.-C.)
| | - Umaru Bangura
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; (U.B.); (C.H.); (S.G.); (L.O.)
| | - Chris Hoffmann
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; (U.B.); (C.H.); (S.G.); (L.O.)
| | - Ayodeji Olayemi
- Natural History Museum, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife HO220005, Nigeria;
| | - Adetunji Samuel Adesina
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife HO220005, Nigeria;
| | - Stephan Günther
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; (U.B.); (C.H.); (S.G.); (L.O.)
- German Center for Infectious Diseases (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lisa Oestereich
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; (U.B.); (C.H.); (S.G.); (L.O.)
- German Center for Infectious Diseases (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Fichet-Calvet
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; (U.B.); (C.H.); (S.G.); (L.O.)
- Correspondence: (H.S.); (E.F.-C.)
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13
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Wood R, Bangura U, Mariën J, Douno M, Fichet-Calvet E. Detection of Lassa virus in wild rodent feces: Implications for Lassa fever burden within households in the endemic region of Faranah, Guinea. One Health 2021; 13:100317. [PMID: 34522759 PMCID: PMC8424210 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2021.100317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Lassa arenavirus (LASV) is the cause of Lassa Fever in humans in West Africa. The multimammate mouse (Mastomys natalensis) is a reservoir host of LASV and the primary source of human infections. Humans are assumed to become infected due to contact with this animal or its excretions. Thus far, the available literature does not describe the sampling of feces as a means to detect LASV in M. natalensis populations. More evidence is needed to know if feces of naturally infected M. natalensis can be LASV-positive and an exposure risk to humans. This study sampled feces deposits in households from three villages in the LASV-endemic region of Faranah, Guinea. PCR analysis found 10 out of 88 samples to be positive for LASV, and sequencing showed clustering to previously identified Yarawelia and Dalafilani strains. We conclude that feces sampling is a viable, non-invasive method for the determination and sequencing of LASV strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekah Wood
- Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Umaru Bangura
- Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Joachim Mariën
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Virology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Moussa Douno
- Laboratoire des Fièvres Hémorragiques de Guinée, Centre de Recherche en Virologie, Université Gamal Abdel Nasser de Conakry, Conakry, Guinée
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14
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Arruda LB, Haider N, Olayemi A, Simons D, Ehichioya D, Yinka-Ogunleye A, Ansumana R, Thomason MJ, Asogun D, Ihekweazu C, Fichet-Calvet E, Kock RA. The niche of One Health approaches in Lassa fever surveillance and control. Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob 2021; 20:29. [PMID: 33894784 PMCID: PMC8067790 DOI: 10.1186/s12941-021-00431-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Lassa fever (LF), a zoonotic illness, represents a public health burden in West African countries where the Lassa virus (LASV) circulates among rodents. Human exposure hinges significantly on LASV ecology, which is in turn shaped by various parameters such as weather seasonality and even virus and rodent-host genetics. Furthermore, human behaviour, despite playing a key role in the zoonotic nature of the disease, critically affects either the spread or control of human-to-human transmission. Previous estimations on LF burden date from the 80s and it is unclear how the population expansion and the improvement on diagnostics and surveillance methods have affected such predictions. Although recent data have contributed to the awareness of epidemics, the real impact of LF in West African communities will only be possible with the intensification of interdisciplinary efforts in research and public health approaches. This review discusses the causes and consequences of LF from a One Health perspective, and how the application of this concept can improve the surveillance and control of this disease in West Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liã Bárbara Arruda
- Centre for Clinical Microbiology, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Najmul Haider
- The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hatfield, UK
| | - Ayodeji Olayemi
- Natural History Museum, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria
| | - David Simons
- The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hatfield, UK
| | - Deborah Ehichioya
- Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria.,Department of Microbiology, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria
| | | | - Rashid Ansumana
- School of Community Health Sciences, Njala University, Bo, Sierra Leone
| | - Margaret J Thomason
- Centre for Clinical Microbiology, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK
| | - Danny Asogun
- Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria
| | | | | | - Richard A Kock
- The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hatfield, UK
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15
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Douno M, Asampong E, Magassouba N, Fichet-Calvet E, Almudena MS. Hunting and consumption of rodents by children in the Lassa fever endemic area of Faranah, Guinea. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009212. [PMID: 33730025 PMCID: PMC7968712 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
As a consequence of the Ebola outbreak, human-animal contact has gained importance for zoonotic transmission surveillance. In Faranah (Upper Guinea), daily life is intertwined with rodents, such as the Natal multimammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis; a reservoir for Lassa virus (LASV). However, this contact is rarely perceived as a health risk by residents, although Lassa fever (LF) is known to be endemic to this region. Conversely, these observations remain a great concern for global health agendas. Drawing on ethnographic research involving interviews, focus group discussions, participant observations, and informal discussions over four months, we first identified factors that motivated children to hunt and consume rodents in Faranah villages, and thereafter, explored the knowledge of LF infection in children and their parents. Furthermore, we studied two dimensions of human-rodent encounters: 1) space-time of interaction and 2) factors that allowed the interaction to occur and their materiality. This approach allowed us to contextualize child-rodent contacts beyond domestic limits in the fallow fields, swamps, and at other times for this practice. A close look at these encounters provided information on rodent trapping, killing, and manipulation of cooking techniques and the risk these activities posed for the primary transmission of LASV. This research facilitated the understanding of children's exposure to M. natalensis during hunting sessions and the importance of rodent hunting, which is a part of their boyish identity in rural areas. Determination of when, where, why, and how children, rodents, and environments interacted allowed us to understand the exposures and risks important for human and animal surveillance programs in the Lassa-endemic region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moussa Douno
- Projet des Fièvres Hémorragiques en Guinée, Centre de Recherche en Virologie, Université de Conakry, Guinée
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
- * E-mail:
| | - Emmanuel Asampong
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - N’Faly Magassouba
- Projet des Fièvres Hémorragiques en Guinée, Centre de Recherche en Virologie, Université de Conakry, Guinée
| | | | - Marí Sáez Almudena
- Center for International Health Protection, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
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16
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Min KD, Hwang J, Schneider MC, So Y, Lee JY, Cho SI. An exploration of the protective effect of rodent species richness on the geographical expansion of Lassa fever in West Africa. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009108. [PMID: 33524016 PMCID: PMC7877741 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lassa fever (LF) is one of the most devastating rodent-borne diseases in West Africa, causing thousands of deaths annually. The geographical expansion of LF is also a concern; cases were recently identified in Ghana and Benin. Previous ecological studies have suggested that high natural-host biodiversity reduces the likelihood of spillover transmission of rodent-borne diseases, by suppressing the activities of reservoir species. However, the association of biodiversity with the geographical expansion of LF has not been the subject of epidemiological studies. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We conducted a spatial analysis based on sociodemographic, geographical, and ecological data, and found that higher rodent species richness was significantly associated with a lower risk of LF emergence in West Africa from 2008 to 2017 (Odds Ratio = 0.852, 95% Credible Interval = 0.745-0.971). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE The results reinforce the importance of the 'One Health' approach by demonstrating that a high level of biodiversity could benefit human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung-Duk Min
- Institute of Health and Environment, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jusun Hwang
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, New York, United States of America
| | - Maria Cristina Schneider
- Department of International Health, School of Nursing and Health Sciences, Georgetown University, Washington DC, United States of America
- Institute of Collective Health Studies, Federal University of Rio De Janeiro, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Yeonghwa So
- Department of Public Health Science, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ju-Yeun Lee
- Department of Public Health Science, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-il Cho
- Institute of Health and Environment, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Public Health Science, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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17
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Magassouba N, Koivogui E, Conde S, Kone M, Koropogui M, Soropogui B, Kekoura I, Hinzmann J, Günther S, Keita S, Duraffour S, Fichet-Calvet E. A Sporadic and Lethal Lassa Fever Case in Forest Guinea, 2019. Viruses 2020; 12:v12101062. [PMID: 32977629 PMCID: PMC7598168 DOI: 10.3390/v12101062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Lassa fever is a rodent-borne disease caused by Lassa virus (LASV). It causes fever, dizziness, vertigo, fatigue, coughing, diarrhea, internal bleeding and facial edema. The disease has been known in Guinea since 1960 but only anectodical acute cases have been reported to date. In January 2019, a 35-year-old man, a wood merchant from Kissidougou, Forest Guinea, presented himself at several health centers with persistent fever, frequent vomiting and joint pain. He was repeatedly treated for severe malaria, and died three weeks later in Mamou regional hospital. Differential diagnosis identified LASV as the cause of death. No secondary cases were reported. The complete LASV genome was obtained using next-generation sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis showed that this strain, namely the Kissidougou strain, belongs to the clade IV circulating in Guinea and Sierra Leone, and is thought to have emerged some 150 years ago. Due to the similarity of symptoms with malaria, Lassa fever is still a disease that is difficult to recognize and that may remain undiagnosed in health centers in Guinea.
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Affiliation(s)
- N’Faly Magassouba
- Laboratoire des Fièvres Hémorragiques en Guinée, Conakry, Guinea; (N.M.); (M.K.); (B.S.); (I.K.)
| | - Enogo Koivogui
- Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire, Ministry of Health, Conakry, Guinea; (E.K.); (S.C.); (M.K.); (S.K.)
| | - Sory Conde
- Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire, Ministry of Health, Conakry, Guinea; (E.K.); (S.C.); (M.K.); (S.K.)
| | - Moussa Kone
- Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire, Ministry of Health, Conakry, Guinea; (E.K.); (S.C.); (M.K.); (S.K.)
| | - Michel Koropogui
- Laboratoire des Fièvres Hémorragiques en Guinée, Conakry, Guinea; (N.M.); (M.K.); (B.S.); (I.K.)
| | - Barrè Soropogui
- Laboratoire des Fièvres Hémorragiques en Guinée, Conakry, Guinea; (N.M.); (M.K.); (B.S.); (I.K.)
| | - Ifono Kekoura
- Laboratoire des Fièvres Hémorragiques en Guinée, Conakry, Guinea; (N.M.); (M.K.); (B.S.); (I.K.)
| | - Julia Hinzmann
- Virology Department, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; (J.H.); (S.G.); (S.D.)
- Virology Department, German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Hamburg–Lübeck–Borstel–Riems, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Stephan Günther
- Virology Department, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; (J.H.); (S.G.); (S.D.)
- Virology Department, German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Hamburg–Lübeck–Borstel–Riems, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sakoba Keita
- Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire, Ministry of Health, Conakry, Guinea; (E.K.); (S.C.); (M.K.); (S.K.)
| | - Sophie Duraffour
- Virology Department, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; (J.H.); (S.G.); (S.D.)
- Virology Department, German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Hamburg–Lübeck–Borstel–Riems, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Fichet-Calvet
- Virology Department, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; (J.H.); (S.G.); (S.D.)
- Virology Department, German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Hamburg–Lübeck–Borstel–Riems, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-4042-818-942
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