Molecular characterisation of rodent-dreived lassa virus and rodent host species in endemic foci for lassa fever within North-central and Southern Nigeria.
| dc.contributor.author | ADESINA Adetunji Samuel | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-09-18T11:35:02Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-09-18T11:35:02Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2022 | |
| dc.description | i-xviii, 1-161p | |
| dc.description.abstract | This study determined the presence of Lassa virus (LASV) strains in rodent populationsin the study area, characterised the Lassa virus strains phylogenetically, established the association between Lassa virus infection and lineage distribution in rodent hosts and analysedgenetic variability between Lassa virus strains detected within the study areas. These were witha view to providing information on Lassa virus incidence in rodent populations, lineage andstrain distribution of the virus across the study areas. Non endemic (Kwara), endemic (Nasarawa, Plateau) and highly endemic (Edo, Ondo, Ebonyi) States were selected as sampling sites based on epidemiological data from the NigeriaCenter for Disease Control (NCDC). Identification of captured rodents was based onmorphology and molecular characterisation by targeting the cytochrome b (Cyt b) gene, usingPolymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-based analysis of DNA extracted from kidney samples. To investigate previous exposure of rodents to LASV, Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody testingwas carried out by immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Ongoing LASV infection was investigated by screening rodent blood samples using quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR(qRT-PCR) targeting the LASV gene. All positive samples from the qRT-PCR were then runon a gel-based reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR) targeting fragments of the Large (340 bp),Glycoprotein Precursor Complex (1 kb) and Nucleoprotein (800 bp) genes. Phylogenetic analysis tools (BEAST, MAFFT alignment software and IQTree) were used to determine LASV lineage distribution of positive rodents. Statistical analysis was carried out using the GraphPad Prism 9 software.Six hundred and eleven (611) small mammal specimens were trapped in this study, representing 10 rodent and one shrew species. The Mastomys rodents were the most abundant (40.10%) and were present in every location. Five species (Mastomys natalensis, n = 30; Mastomys erythroleucus, n = 18; Praomys daltoni, n = 9; Mus musculus, n = 4; and Crocidura spp, n = 1) were seropositive for LASV. Overall IgG seropralevence was 10.14%, with Edo andOndo States having the highest number of IgG-positive rodents. Molecular testing showed thatM. erythroleucus rodents from Ebudin (n = 6, 16.67%) in Edo State and M. natalensis from Ebudin (n = 3, 11.54%) and Ekpoma (n = 5, 35.71%) in Edo State and Owo (13, 29.55%) in Ondo State, were PCR-positive. Mastomys erythroleucus was reported in only 3 States in the study area: Nasarawa (Lafia, n = 3, Obi, n = 1), Ebonyi (Ndubia, n = 26, Ndiawala, n = 39) and Edo (Ebudin, n = 36). Testing showed that 28 (26.67%) had some interaction with LASV with six being qRT-PCR-positive and 22 IgG-positive samples. Mastomys erythroleucus samples from Ndiawala (Ebonyi State) and Obi (Nasarawa State) had no interaction with LASV as revealed by both PCR and IgG antibody testing. Phylogenetic analysis of the L, GPC and NP genes of the LASV detected in this study showed that the virus belongs to lineage II. This study concluded that Mastomys erythroleucus is a host of LASV in southern Nigeria and the sequences belong to lineage II. Moreover, Lassa virus antibody was found to be present in previously unreported rodent species. | |
| dc.identifier.citation | Adesina, A.S. (2022). Molecular characterisation of rodent-dreived lassa virus and rodent host species in endemic foci for lassa fever within North-central and Southern Nigeria. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular biology, faculty of science, Obafemi Awolowo University. | |
| dc.identifier.other | ror.org/04snhqa82 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://ir.oauife.edu.ng/handle/123456789/6942 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Department of Biochemistry and Molecular biology, faculty of science, Obafemi Awolowo University. | |
| dc.title | Molecular characterisation of rodent-dreived lassa virus and rodent host species in endemic foci for lassa fever within North-central and Southern Nigeria. | |
| dc.type | Thesis |