| Title: |
Luna Virus and Helminths in Wild Mastomys natalensis in Two Contrasting Habitats in Zambia: Risk Factors and Evidence of Virus Dissemination in Semen |
| Authors: |
Munjita, Samuel Munalula; Moonga, Given; Mukubesa, Andrew Nalishuwa; Ndebe, Joseph; Mubemba, Benjamin; Vanaerschot, Manu; Tato, Cristina; Tembo, John; Kapata, Nathan; Chitanga, Simbarashe; Changula, Katendi; Kajihara, Mashiro; Muleya, Walter; Takada, Ayato; Fichet-Calvet, Elisabeth; Zumla, Alimuddin; Sawa, Hirofumi; Bates, Matthew; Munsaka, Sody; Simulundu, Edgar |
| Source: |
Pathogens , 11 (11) , Article 1345. (2022) |
| Publisher Information: |
MDPI |
| Publication Year: |
2022 |
| Collection: |
University College London: UCL Discovery |
| Subject Terms: |
Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Microbiology; metagenomics; semen; foetus; reads; prevalence; risk factors; Luna virus; rodents; Mastomys natalensis; Zambia; ARENAVIRUS; LASSA; HANTAVIRUS; MOUSE; INFECTION; ECOLOGY; AFRICA; HUMANS |
| Description: |
Transmission dynamics and the maintenance of mammarenaviruses in nature are poorly understood. Using metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) and RT-PCR, we investigated the presence of mammarenaviruses and co-infecting helminths in various tissues of 182 Mastomys natalensis rodents and 68 other small mammals in riverine and non-riverine habitats in Zambia. The Luna virus (LUAV) genome was the only mammarenavirus detected (7.7%; 14/182) from M. natalensis. Only one rodent from the non-riverine habitat was positive, while all six foetuses from one pregnant rodent carried LUAV. LUAV-specific mNGS reads were 24-fold higher in semen than in other tissues from males. Phylogenetically, the viruses were closely related to each other within the LUAV clade. Helminth infections were found in 11.5% (21/182) of M. natalensis. LUAV-helminth co-infections were observed in 50% (7/14) of virus-positive rodents. Juvenility (OR = 9.4; p = 0.018; 95% CI: 1.47-59.84), nematodes (OR = 15.5; p = 0.001; 95% CI: 3.11-76.70), cestodes (OR = 10.8; p = 0.025; 95% CI: 1.35-86.77), and being male (OR = 4.6; p = 0.036; 95% CI: 1.10-18.90) were associated with increased odds of LUAV RNA detection. The role of possible sexual and/or congenital transmission in the epidemiology of LUAV infections in rodents requires further study, along with the implications of possible helminth co-infection. |
| Document Type: |
article in journal/newspaper |
| File Description: |
application/pdf |
| Language: |
English |
| Relation: |
https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10162479/1/Luna%20Virus%20and%20Helminths%20in%20Wild%20iMastomys%20natalensisi%20in%20Two%20Contrasting%20Habitats%20in%20Zambia%20Risk%20Factors%20and%20Evidence%20of%20Vi.pdf; https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10162479/ |
| Availability: |
https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10162479/1/Luna%20Virus%20and%20Helminths%20in%20Wild%20iMastomys%20natalensisi%20in%20Two%20Contrasting%20Habitats%20in%20Zambia%20Risk%20Factors%20and%20Evidence%20of%20Vi.pdf; https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10162479/ |
| Rights: |
open |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.815CDF9A |
| Database: |
BASE |