At home with Mastomys and Rattus: human-rodent interactions and potential for primary transmission of Lassa virus in domestic spaces

Bonwitt, J.; Sáez, A.M.; Lamin, J.; Ansumana, R.; Dawson, M.; Buanie, J.; Sondufu, D.; Borchert, M.; Sahr, F.; Fichet-Calvet, E.; Brown, Hannah

doi:10.4269/ajtmh.16-0675

At home with Mastomys and Rattus: human-rodent interactions and potential for primary transmission of Lassa virus in domestic spaces

Bonwitt, J.; Sáez, A.M.; Lamin, J.; Ansumana, R.; Dawson, M.; Buanie, J.; Sondufu, D.; Borchert, M.; Sahr, F.; Fichet-Calvet, E.; Brown, Hannah

Authors

Dr Jesse Bonwitt jesse.bonwitt@durham.ac.uk
Honorary Associate

A.M. Sáez

J. Lamin

R. Ansumana

M. Dawson

J. Buanie

D. Sondufu

M. Borchert

F. Sahr

E. Fichet-Calvet

Professor Hannah Brown hannah.brown@durham.ac.uk
Professor

Abstract

The multimammate mouse (Mastomys natalensis) is the reservoir for Lassa virus (LASV). Zoonotic transmission occurs when humans are directly or indirectly exposed to fluids of the multimammate mouse, such as urine, saliva, and blood. Housing characteristics and domestic organization affect rodent density in and around households and villages, and are likely to be a risk factor for Lassa fever (LF) in humans where the reservoir exists. We use semi-structured interviews (n=51), a quantitative survey (n=429), direct observations and a rodent ecology study to provide new insights into how the organization of domestic spaces brings together humans and rodents and creates pathways for infection in rural settlements in Bo District, Sierra Leone. Rodents were frequently reported inside houses (92.4% of respondents), in which we predominantly trapped M. natalensis (57% of trapped rodents) and Rattus rattus (38% of trapped rodents). Building design and materials provide hiding and nesting places for rodents and lead to close proximity with humans. Patterns of contact are both unintentional and intentional and research participants reported high levels of contact with rodents (34.2% of respondents) and rodent fluids (52.8% of respondents). Rodents are also perceived as a serious threat to food security. These results present detailed knowledge about how humans live with and come into contact with rodents, including the LASV reservoir. Our results argue for further collaborative research in housing and environmental modification such as ceiling construction, food storage and sanitation as prevention against zoonotic LASV transmission.

Citation

Bonwitt, J., Sáez, A., Lamin, J., Ansumana, R., Dawson, M., Buanie, J., …Brown, H. (2017). At home with Mastomys and Rattus: human-rodent interactions and potential for primary transmission of Lassa virus in domestic spaces. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 96(4), 935-943. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.16-0675

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	Dec 12, 2016
Online Publication Date	Feb 6, 2017
Publication Date	Apr 1, 2017
Deposit Date	Jan 4, 2017
Publicly Available Date	Jan 5, 2017
Journal	American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Print ISSN	0002-9637
Electronic ISSN	1476-1645
Publisher	American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	96
Issue	4
Pages	935-943
DOI	https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.16-0675

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