title: Shedding dynamics of Morogoro virus, an African arenavirus closely related to Lassa virus, in its natural reservoir host Mastomys natalensis.
abstract: Arenaviruses can cause mild to severe hemorrhagic fevers. Humans mainly get infected through contact with infected rodents or their excretions, yet little is known about transmission dynamics within rodent populations. Morogoro virus (MORV) is an Old World arenavirus closely related to Lassa virus with which it shares the same host species Mastomys natalensis. We injected MORV in its host, and sampled blood and excretions at frequent intervals. Infection in adults was acute; viral RNA disappeared from blood after 18 days post infection (dpi) and from excretions after 39 dpi. Antibodies were present from 7 dpi and never disappeared. Neonatally infected animals acquired a chronic infection with RNA and antibodies in blood for at least 3 months. The quantified excretion and antibody patterns can be used to inform mathematical transmission models, and are essential for understanding and controlling transmission in the natural rodent host populations.
authors.affiliation: Evolutionary Ecology Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Benny
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Borremans
authors.affiliation: Evolutionary Ecology Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Raphaël
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vossen
authors.affiliation: Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Becker-Ziaja
authors.affiliation: Evolutionary Ecology Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gryseels
authors.affiliation: Evolutionary Ecology Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Nelika
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.affiliation: Evolutionary Ecology Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Mats
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van Gestel
authors.affiliation: Evolutionary Ecology Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Van Houtte
authors.affiliation: Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Günther
authors.affiliation: Evolutionary Ecology Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Herwig
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Leirs
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001117:Arenaviridae Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D018050:Arenavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007836:Lassa virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D051189:Murinae / Q000821:virology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D013636:Tanzania
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral