Lassa Virus Circulation in Small Mammal Populations in Bo District, Sierra Leone

Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic caused by the virus LASV, which was first isolated in rodent Mastomys natalensis 1974 Kenema, Sierra Leone. As little known about abundance and presence of LASV rodents living Bo area, we carried out small mammal longitudinal population survey. A standardized trapping session performed various habitats seasons six villages over two years (2014–2016) samples collected were tested for arenavirus IgG LASV. Bayesian phylogenetic analysis on sequences identified PCR. total 1490 mammals collected, 16 species identified, with M. (355, 24%) found to be most prevalent species. Forty-one (2.8%) positive, 31 these trapped homes 10 surrounding vegetation. Twenty-nine 41 seropositive natalensis. We detected four PCR villages, all Phylogenetic showed that distributed within Leonean clade lineage IV, distinguishing sub-clade older than Kenema sub-clade. Compared other settings, low circulation around district.