Antibodies to Lassa and lassa-like viruses in man and mammals in the Central African Republic

Georges, A. J.; Gonzalez, Jean‐Paul; Abdul-Wahid, S.; Saluzzo, J.F.; Meunier, Danièle; McCormick, Joseph B.

doi:10.1016/0035-9203(85)90242-1

Cited by 16 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…The scenario of multiple infection with both Lassa-like and Lassa virus is highly unlikely, and so we consider that central and eastern Africa are Lassa free. This is supported by many negative serological studies in Cameroon, in CAR, Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon [24],[25],[26],[27]. However, the situation in south-west Cameroon bordering Nigeria remains problematic because this zone appears to be at high risk according to Figure 2.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

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Risk Maps of Lassa Fever in West Africa

2009

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BackgroundLassa fever is caused by a viral haemorrhagic arenavirus that affects two to three million people in West Africa, causing a mortality of between 5,000 and 10,000 each year. The natural reservoir of Lassa virus is the multi-mammate rat Mastomys natalensis, which lives in houses and surrounding fields. With the aim of gaining more information to control this disease, we here carry out a spatial analysis of Lassa fever data from human cases and infected rodent hosts covering the period 1965–2007. Information on contemporary environmental conditions (temperature, rainfall, vegetation) was derived from NASA Terra MODIS satellite sensor data and other sources and for elevation from the GTOPO30 surface for the region from Senegal to the Congo. All multi-temporal data were analysed using temporal Fourier techniques to generate images of means, amplitudes and phases which were used as the predictor variables in the models. In addition, meteorological rainfall data collected between 1951 and 1989 were used to generate a synoptic rainfall surface for the same region.Methodology/Principal FindingsThree different analyses (models) are presented, one superimposing Lassa fever outbreaks on the mean rainfall surface (Model 1) and the other two using non-linear discriminant analytical techniques. Model 2 selected variables in a step-wise inclusive fashion, and Model 3 used an information-theoretic approach in which many different random combinations of 10 variables were fitted to the Lassa fever data. Three combinations of absence∶presence clusters were used in each of Models 2 and 3, the 2 absence∶1 presence cluster combination giving what appeared to be the best result. Model 1 showed that the recorded outbreaks of Lassa fever in human populations occurred in zones receiving between 1,500 and 3,000 mm rainfall annually. Rainfall, and to a much lesser extent temperature variables, were most strongly selected in both Models 2 and 3, and neither vegetation nor altitude seemed particularly important. Both Models 2 and 3 produced mean kappa values in excess of 0.91 (Model 2) or 0.86 (Model 3), making them ‘Excellent’.Conclusion/SignificanceThe Lassa fever areas predicted by the models cover approximately 80% of each of Sierra Leone and Liberia, 50% of Guinea, 40% of Nigeria, 30% of each of Côte d'Ivoire, Togo and Benin, and 10% of Ghana.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

“…The null prevalences recorded in Cameroon, CAR, Gabon and Congo were derived from samples taken in towns [24],[25],[26], whereas the low prevalence of 5% recorded in Pool region in Congo came from samples taken in villages [27]. Elsewhere, prevalences appear as a mean, estimated regionally from several villages or from hospital staffs.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risk Maps of Lassa Fever in West Africa

2009

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“…in the Central African Republic (CAR), and MOPV isolated from Mozambique [31], and Zimbabwe [32]. Although antibodies against MOPV were detected in people [33], there is no evidence of clinically-manifested LF in areas of MOPV circulation. These observations taken together with the ability of MOPV to protect NHP against LASV challenge [34,35] allow some researchers to consider MOPV a naturally attenuated variant of LASV [36].…”

Section: Lassa Virus Diversity and Novel African Arenavirusesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advanced Vaccine Candidates for Lassa Fever

Lukashevich

2012

Viruses

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Lassa virus (LASV) is the most prominent human pathogen of the Arenaviridae. The virus is transmitted to humans by a rodent reservoir, Mastomys natalensis, and is capable of causing lethal Lassa Fever (LF). LASV has the highest human impact of any of the viral hemorrhagic fevers (with the exception of Dengue Fever) with an estimated several hundred thousand infections annually, resulting in thousands of deaths in Western Africa. The sizeable disease burden, numerous imported cases of LF in non-endemic countries, and the possibility that LASV can be used as an agent of biological warfare make a strong case for vaccine development. Presently there is no licensed vaccine against LF or approved treatment. Recently, several promising vaccine candidates have been developed which can potentially target different groups at risk. The purpose of this manuscript is to review the LASV pathogenesis and immune mechanisms involved in protection. The current status of pre-clinical development of the advanced vaccine candidates that have been tested in non-human primates will be discussed. Major scientific, manufacturing, and regulatory challenges will also be considered.

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“…and Mobala virus (MOBV; [24]) isolated from Praomys spp. in the Central African Republic (CAR); and Mopeia virus (MOPV) that like LASV is associated with members of the genus Mastomys , and was reported from Mozambique [25] and Zimbabwe [26], although antibody studies suggest that MOPV and LASV may also circulate in CAR [27] where the geographies of these viruses appear to overlap (Figure 1). Up to present, there have been no published reports of severe human disease associated with arenaviruses isolated from southern Africa.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic Detection and Characterization of Lujo Virus, a New Hemorrhagic Fever–Associated Arenavirus from Southern Africa

et al. 2009

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Lujo virus (LUJV), a new member of the family Arenaviridae and the first hemorrhagic fever–associated arenavirus from the Old World discovered in three decades, was isolated in South Africa during an outbreak of human disease characterized by nosocomial transmission and an unprecedented high case fatality rate of 80% (4/5 cases). Unbiased pyrosequencing of RNA extracts from serum and tissues of outbreak victims enabled identification and detailed phylogenetic characterization within 72 hours of sample receipt. Full genome analyses of LUJV showed it to be unique and branching off the ancestral node of the Old World arenaviruses. The virus G1 glycoprotein sequence was highly diverse and almost equidistant from that of other Old World and New World arenaviruses, consistent with a potential distinctive receptor tropism. LUJV is a novel, genetically distinct, highly pathogenic arenavirus.

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Antibodies to Lassa and lassa-like viruses in man and mammals in the Central African Republic

Cited by 16 publications

References 4 publications

Risk Maps of Lassa Fever in West Africa

Risk Maps of Lassa Fever in West Africa

Advanced Vaccine Candidates for Lassa Fever

Genetic Detection and Characterization of Lujo Virus, a New Hemorrhagic Fever–Associated Arenavirus from Southern Africa

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