Abstract
Lassa fever (LF) is a viral haemorrhagic fever endemic in West Africa and spread primarily by the multimammate rat, Mastomys natalensis. As there is no vaccine, reduction of rodent-human transmission is essential for disease control. As the household is thought to be a key site of transmission, understanding domestic risk factors for M. natalensis abundance is crucial. Rodent captures in conjunction with domestic surveys were carried out in 6 villages in an area of rural Upper Guinea with high LF endemicity. 120 rodent traps were set in rooms along a transect in each village for three nights, and the survey was administered in each household on the transects. This study was able to detect several domestic risk factors for increased rodent abundance in rural Upper Guinea. Regression analysis demonstrated that having > 8 holes (RR = 1.8 [1.0004–3.2, p = 0.048), the presence of rodent burrows (RR = 2.3 [1.6–3.23, p = 0.000003), and being in a multi-room square building (RR = 2.0 [1.3–2.9], p = 0.001) were associated with increased rodent abundance. The most addressable of these may be rodent burrows, as burrow patching is a relatively simple process that may reduce rodent entry. Further study is warranted to explicitly link domestic rodent abundance to LF risk, to better characterize domestic risk factors, and to evaluate how household rodent-proofing interventions could contribute to LF control.
Highlights
It is estimated that up to 80% of cases of Lassa fever (LF) are mild or a symptomatic[9]
The proportion of M. natalensis infected with LASV in Guinea was found to be 11.3%, though this varied from 0% in low endemic zones to up to 32.1% in high endemic z ones[17]
Rodent presence and contact in the home is extremely common in the region, and such exposure may increase the risk of LASV transmission
Summary
It is estimated that up to 80% of cases of LF are mild or a symptomatic[9]. In the 20% of cases with symptoms, they are often non-specific, making the disease difficult to diagnose in areas where other febrile diseases, such as malaria, are e ndemic[10]. The mainstay of LF control is limiting human exposure This is done through health education and rodent control to prevent primary rodent-human transmission, and use of infection prevention and control practices to avoid secondary transmission in healthcare settings[12]. With such a limited range of control options, it is critical that their use be as efficient and effective as possible. Detailed study of M. natalensis population dynamics in rural Guinea by Fichet-Calvet, et al has revealed that, in high-endemicity rural areas, rodents are mainly concentrated in homes and sites of proximal cultivation, with relative abundance and seroprevalence varying seasonally[14]. This further implicates contact with rodents in the household as a key mode of transmission
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