Bibliographic Details
| 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: |
Samuel Munalula Munjita, Given Moonga, Andrew Nalishuwa Mukubesa, Joseph Ndebe, Benjamin Mubemba, Manu Vanaerschot, Cristina Tato, John Tembo, Nathan Kapata, Simbarashe Chitanga, Katendi Changula, Mashiro Kajihara, Walter Muleya, Ayato Takada, Elisabeth Fichet-Calvet, Alimuddin Zumla, Hirofumi Sawa, Matthew Bates, Sody Munsaka, Edgar Simulundu |
| Source: |
Pathogens, Vol 11, Iss 11, p 1345 (2022) |
| Publisher Information: |
MDPI AG, 2022. |
| Publication Year: |
2022 |
| Collection: |
LCC:Medicine |
| Subject Terms: |
metagenomics, semen, foetus, reads, prevalence, risk factors, Medicine |
| More Details: |
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 |
| File Description: |
electronic resource |
| Language: |
English |
| ISSN: |
2076-0817 |
| Relation: |
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/11/11/1345; https://doaj.org/toc/2076-0817 |
| DOI: |
10.3390/pathogens11111345 |
| Access URL: |
https://doaj.org/article/9cd7c933c28e4fb7ab9f2610d4e98932 |
| Accession Number: |
edsdoj.9cd7c933c28e4fb7ab9f2610d4e98932 |
| Database: |
Directory of Open Access Journals |
