Annual Incidence of Lassa Virus Infection in Southern Mali

David Safronetz Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Canada.
University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.

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Nafomon Sogoba University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako, Mali.

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Sory Ibrahim Diawara University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako, Mali.

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Sidy Bane University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako, Mali.

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Kyle Rosenke Laboratory of Virology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana.

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Ousmane Maiga University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako, Mali.

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Matt Boisen Zalgen Labs, LLC, Germantown, Maryland.

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Robert F. Garry Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana.

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Luis M. Branco Zalgen Labs, LLC, Germantown, Maryland.

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L. Robbin Lindsay Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Canada.
University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.

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Sékou F. Traoré University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako, Mali.

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Heinz Feldmann University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
Laboratory of Virology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana.

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Seydou Doumbia University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako, Mali.

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.16-0821
Volume/Issue:
Volume 96: Issue 4
Page(s):
944–946
Restricted access
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Previously, we reported a high seroprevalence rate of Lassa virus antibodies in inhabitants of three villages in southern Mali where infected rodents have been demonstrated. Herein, we report a 1-year follow-up study in which we were able to collect a second blood samples from 88.7% of participants of the same cohort. We identified 23 seroconversions for IgG antibodies reactive against Lassa virus, representing an incidence of 6.3% (95% confidence interval = 3.8–8.8%). Seroconversion was frequently seen in preteenage children (12/23, 51.7%) and two household/familial clusters were identified. These results confirm active transmission of Lassa virus is occurring in southern Mali and appropriate diagnostic testing should be established for this etiological agent of severe viral hemorrhagic fever.

Author Notes

* Address correspondence to Heinz Feldmann, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT 59840. E-mail: feldmannh@niaid.nih.gov

Financial support: This work was funded by the International Centers for Excellence in Research program, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, with travel support from the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Authors' addresses: David Safronetz and L. Robbin Lindsay, National Microbiology Laboratory, Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Canada. E-mails: david.safronetz@phac-aspc.gc.ca and robbin.lindsay@phacaspc.gc.ca. Nafomon Sogoba, Sory Ibrahim Diawara, Sidy Bane, Ousmane Maiga, Sekou F. Traore, and Seydou Doumbia, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako, Mali, E-mails: nafomon@icermali.org, sdiawara@icermali.org, sbane@icermali.org, ousmanem@icermali.org, cheick@icermali.org, and sdoumbi@icermali.org. Kyle Rosenke and Heinz Feldmann, Laboratory of Virology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Hamilton, MT, E-mails: rosenkek@niaid.nih.gov and feldmannh@niaid.nih.gov. Matt Boisen and Luis M. Branco, Zalgen Labs LLC, Diagnostics, Germantown, MD, E-mails: mboisen@zalgenlabs.com and lbranco@zalgenlabs.com. Robert F. Garry, Medical Microbiology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, E-mail: rfgarry@tulane.edu.

Copyright:
© The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2017
Received:
19 Oct 2016
|
Accepted:
08 Dec 2016
|
Published Online:
05 Apr 2017
Cover The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Print ISSN:
0002-9637
Online ISSN:
1476-1645
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