Donald S Grant, Emily J Engel, Nicole Roberts Yerkes, Lansana Kanneh, James Koninga, Michael A Gbakie, Foday Alhasan, Franklyn B Kanneh, Ibrahim Mustapha Kanneh, Fatima K Kamara, Mambu Momoh, Mohamed S Yillah, Momoh Foday, Adaora Okoli, Ashley Zeoli, Caroline Weldon, Christopher M Bishop, Crystal Zheng, Jessica Hartnett, Karissa Chao, Kayla Shore, Lilia I Melnik, Mallory Mucci, Nell G Bond, Philip Doyle, Rachael Yenni, Rachel Podgorski, Samuel C Ficenec, Lina Moses, Jeffrey G Shaffer, Robert F Garry, John S Schieffelin
BACKGROUND: Lassa virus (LASV), the cause of the acute viral hemorrhagic illness Lassa fever (LF), is endemic in West Africa. Infections in humans occur mainly after exposure to infected excrement or urine of the rodent-host, Mastomys natalensis. The prevalence of exposure to LASV in Sierra Leone is crudely estimated and largely unknown. This cross-sectional study aimed to establish a baseline point seroprevalence of IgG antibodies to LASV in three administrative districts of Sierra Leone and identify potential risk factors for seropositivity and LASV exposure...
February 9, 2023: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases