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Volume 17
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Article

Serological Evidence of Lassa Virus Exposure in Non-Mastomys Small Mammals Within a Hyperendemic Region of North-Central Nigeria: A Pilot Study

by
Augustine Ovie Edegbene
1,2,*,
Temidayo Oluwatosin Omotehinwa
3,
Joseph Anejo-Okopi
4,*,
Sara El Yaagoubi
5,*,
Oladapo Sunday Shittu
6,
Onyemocho Audu
2,7,
Evangeline Olohi Abah
1,
Samuel Ijoganu
8,
Genesis Kwaghgande
9,
Celina Aju-Ameh
1,
Adesanya Abimbola
10,
Emmanuel Otache
7,
Emmanuel Ameh
11,
Joyce Danyi
12,
Owoicho Ikwu
13,
Esther Agmdalo Malachi Cegbeyi
14,
Oludare Oladipo Agboola
15,
Joseph Okoeguale
16,
Reuben Agbons Eifediyi
17,
Ediga Bede Agbo
4,
John Alechenu Idoko
18,
Innocent Otoboh Achanya Ujah
6 and
Stephen Obekpa Abah
7,*add Show full author list remove Hide full author list
1
Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo 972261, Nigeria
2
Institute for Global Health and Health Security, Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo 972261, Nigeria
3
Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo 972261, Nigeria
4
Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo 972261, Nigeria
5
LESCB URL-CNRST N° 18, Faculty of Sciences, Abdelmalek Essaâdi University, Tétouan, Morocco
6
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo 972261, Nigeria
7
Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo 972261, Nigeria
8
Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo 972261, Nigeria
9
Department of Nursing Services, Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi 970101, Nigeria
10
Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja 260101, Nigeria
11
Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Jos Teaching Hospital, Jos 930103, Nigeria
12
Federal Medical Centre, Keffi 961101, Nigeria
13
Palmcrest Ent Specialist Hospital, Abuja 900001, Nigeria
14
University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Abuja 900001, Nigeria
15
Department of Botany, Federal University, Lokoja 260101, Nigeria
16
Institute of Viral and Emergent Pathogens Control and Research, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital Irrua, Irrua 310120, Nigeria
17
Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, Ekpoma 310101, Nigeria
18
Department of Pediatrics, University of Jos, Jos 930103, Nigeria
 
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*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Viruses 2025, 17(10), 1368; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17101368 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 1 August 2025 / Revised: 19 September 2025 / Accepted: 25 September 2025 / Published: 13 October 2025
(This article belongs to the Section General Virology)
Review Reports Versions Notes

Abstract

Lassa fever (LF), a severe hemorrhagic disease endemic to West Africa, is primarily transmitted by rodents of the genus Mastomys, particularly Mastomys natalensis, which serve as the main reservoirs of Lassa virus (LASV). There have been reports of high prevalence of LF in Nigeria, and outbreaks tend to be recurrent yet geographically restricted, implying that additional ecological or epidemiological factors influence the distribution of the disease beyond the mere presence of M. natalensis. However, national-scale data on LASV prevalence in rodent populations remain scarce. To address this gap, a targeted small mammal survey was conducted over a four-month period (May to August 2024) in Otukpo Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State, north-central Nigeria. Rodents and other small mammals were trapped across three purposively selected wards identified as high-risk areas based on prior reports of occurrence of such small mammals in the areas and the informal settlements in which the selected wards were located in in Otukpo LGA. Analysis of the samples revealed no statistically significant variation in LASV prevalence among the study sites, indicating a relatively uniform, low-level exposure risk across the LGA and region. However, a marginally significant difference in LASV detection between plasma and serum samples suggests that sample type and storage conditions may influence serological sensitivity. These findings highlight the importance of refining diagnostic protocols, broadening surveillance to include additional rodent hosts, and integrating ecological data with public health strategies to improve early warning systems and strengthen Lassa fever control efforts.
Keywords: non-Mastomys small mammals; Mastomys natalensis; Lassa virus (LASV); Lassa fever; rodent reservoirs; one health; nigeria; west africa non-Mastomys small mammals; Mastomys natalensis; Lassa virus (LASV); Lassa fever; rodent reservoirs; one health; nigeria; west africa

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MDPI and ACS Style

Edegbene, A.O.; Omotehinwa, T.O.; Anejo-Okopi, J.; Yaagoubi, S.E.; Shittu, O.S.; Audu, O.; Abah, E.O.; Ijoganu, S.; Kwaghgande, G.; Aju-Ameh, C.; et al. Serological Evidence of Lassa Virus Exposure in Non-Mastomys Small Mammals Within a Hyperendemic Region of North-Central Nigeria: A Pilot Study. Viruses 2025, 17, 1368. https://doi.org/10.3390/v17101368

AMA Style

Edegbene AO, Omotehinwa TO, Anejo-Okopi J, Yaagoubi SE, Shittu OS, Audu O, Abah EO, Ijoganu S, Kwaghgande G, Aju-Ameh C, et al. Serological Evidence of Lassa Virus Exposure in Non-Mastomys Small Mammals Within a Hyperendemic Region of North-Central Nigeria: A Pilot Study. Viruses. 2025; 17(10):1368. https://doi.org/10.3390/v17101368

Chicago/Turabian Style

Edegbene, Augustine Ovie, Temidayo Oluwatosin Omotehinwa, Joseph Anejo-Okopi, Sara El Yaagoubi, Oladapo Sunday Shittu, Onyemocho Audu, Evangeline Olohi Abah, Samuel Ijoganu, Genesis Kwaghgande, Celina Aju-Ameh, and et al. 2025. "Serological Evidence of Lassa Virus Exposure in Non-Mastomys Small Mammals Within a Hyperendemic Region of North-Central Nigeria: A Pilot Study" Viruses 17, no. 10: 1368. https://doi.org/10.3390/v17101368

APA Style

Edegbene, A. O., Omotehinwa, T. O., Anejo-Okopi, J., Yaagoubi, S. E., Shittu, O. S., Audu, O., Abah, E. O., Ijoganu, S., Kwaghgande, G., Aju-Ameh, C., Abimbola, A., Otache, E., Ameh, E., Danyi, J., Ikwu, O., Cegbeyi, E. A. M., Agboola, O. O., Okoeguale, J., Eifediyi, R. A., ... Abah, S. O. (2025). Serological Evidence of Lassa Virus Exposure in Non-Mastomys Small Mammals Within a Hyperendemic Region of North-Central Nigeria: A Pilot Study. Viruses, 17(10), 1368. https://doi.org/10.3390/v17101368

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