Bibliographic Details
| Title: |
Monitoring of Lassa virus infection in suspected and confirmed cases in Ondo State, Nigeria. |
| Authors: |
Salu, Olumuyiwa Babalola, Amoo, Olufemi Samuel, Shaibu, Joseph Ojonugwa, Abejegah, Chukwuyem, Ayodeji, Oluwafemi, Musa, Adesola Zaidat, Idigbe, Ifeoma, Ezechi, Oliver Chukwujekwu, Audu, Rosemary Ajuma, Salako, Babatunde Lawal, Omilabu, Sunday Aremu |
| Source: |
Pan African Medical Journal; May-Aug2020, Vol. 36, p1-12, 12p |
| Abstract: |
Introduction: Lassa virus (LASV), the causative agent of Lassa fever (LF), an endemic acute viral haemorrhagic illness in Nigeria, is transmitted by direct contact with the rodent, contaminated food or household items. Person-to-person transmission also occurs and sexual transmission has been reported. Thus, this study investigated the presence of LASV in body fluids of suspected and confirmed cases. Methods: this was a cross-sectional study between March 2018 and April 2019 involving 112 consenting suspected and post ribavirin confirmed cases attending the Lassa fever treatment center in Ondo State. Whole blood was collected from 57 suspected and 29 confirmed cases. Other samples from confirmed cases were 5 each of High Vaginal Swab (HVS) and seminal fluid; 12 breast milk and 4 urine. All samples were analyzed using reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) targeting the S-gene of LASV. Results: analysis of whole blood by RT-PCR showed that 1/57 (1.8%) suspected and 1/29 (3.4%) confirmed post ribavirin treated cases were positive. While LASV was detected in 2/5 (40%) post ribavirin treated seminal fluids and 1/11 (8.3%) breast milk. However, LASV was not detected in any of the HVS and urine samples. Conclusion: the detection of LASV in seminal fluid and breast milk of discharged post ribavirin treated cases suggests its persistence in these fluids of recovering Nigerians. The role of postnatal and sexual transmissions in the perennial outbreak of LF needs to be further evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
|
Copyright of Pan African Medical Journal is the property of Pan African Medical Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| Database: |
Complementary Index |
