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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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Madueme PGU, Chirove F. A systematic review of mathematical models of Lassa fever. Math Biosci 2024; 374:109227. [PMID: 38844262 DOI: 10.1016/j.mbs.2024.109227] [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: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
This systematic review, conducted following the PRISMA guidelines, scrutinizes mathematical models employed in the study of Lassa fever. The analysis revealed the inherent heterogeneity in both models and data, posing significant challenges to parameter estimation. While health and behavioral interventions exhibit promise in mitigating the disease's spread, their efficacy is contingent upon contextual factors. Identified through this review are critical gaps, limitations, and avenues for future research, necessitating increased harmonization and standardization in modeling approaches. The considerations of seasonal and spatial variations emerge as crucial elements demanding targeted investigation. The perpetual threat of emerging diseases, coupled with the enduring public health impact of Lassa fever, underscores the imperative for sustained research endeavors and investments in mathematical modeling. The conclusion underscored that while mathematical modeling remains an invaluable tool in the combat against Lassa fever, its optimal utilization mandates multidisciplinary collaboration, refined data collection methodologies, and an enriched understanding of the intricate disease dynamics. This comprehensive approach is essential for effectively reducing the burden of Lassa fever and safeguarding the health of vulnerable populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Praise-God Uchechukwu Madueme
- Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, 2006, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Faraimunashe Chirove
- Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, 2006, Johannesburg, South Africa.
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Groger M, Ramharter M. Rapid diagnostic tests for Lassa fever: what do we aim for? THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2024:S1473-3099(24)00235-4. [PMID: 38734013 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(24)00235-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Mirjam Groger
- Centre of Tropical Medicine, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, and Department of Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Michael Ramharter
- Centre of Tropical Medicine, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, and Department of Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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Kaboré L, Pecenka C, Hausdorff WP. Lassa fever vaccine use cases and demand: Perspectives from select West African experts. Vaccine 2024; 42:1873-1877. [PMID: 38369392 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.02.044] [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: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Lassa fever (LF) is a zoonotic viral hemorrhagic disease endemic to several West African countries. Approximately 300-500,000 cases occur annually across all ages with 10-20% case fatality rates. A LF vaccine is a recognized public health priority, with several candidates entering clinical trials. However, the perspectives of regional experts regarding critical vaccine properties, ideal delivery methods, and priority target populations remain unclear. Using a mixed methods approach with a standardized questionnaire, we individually interviewed 8 West African stakeholders, each with extensive knowledge and experience of LF. They strongly favored the use of a mass, proactive campaign strategy to immunize a wide age range of people in high-risk areas, including pregnant women and health care workers. We estimated that these and other plausible delivery scenarios could result in an initial demand of anywhere from 1 to 100 million doses, with most demand coming from Nigeria. These findings may help inform LF vaccine development and deployment efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lassané Kaboré
- PATH, Fann Résidence Rue Saint John Perse x F, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Clint Pecenka
- PATH, 2201 Westlake Avenue, Suite 200, Seattle, WA 98121, USA
| | - William P Hausdorff
- PATH, 455 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington DC 20001, USA; Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
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Ly H. Progress toward the development of Lassa vaccines. Expert Rev Vaccines 2024; 23:5-7. [PMID: 38044877 PMCID: PMC10757453 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2023.2290683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Hinh Ly
- Department of Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA
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Nwabueze CO. Lassa fever vaccine prospects: identifying immunodominant multi-epitopes as vaccine candidate. Clin Exp Vaccine Res 2023; 12:346-347. [PMID: 38025917 PMCID: PMC10655157 DOI: 10.7774/cevr.2023.12.4.346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Cherechi Omarabia Nwabueze
- The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
- University of Nigeria, College of Medicine, Enugu, Nigeria
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