Detection of the Lassa Virus in a Group of Odontogenic Bone Tumor Tissues
Marco de Feo,
Frédéric Dilu Tamba,
Anguy Makaka Mutondo,
Gracia Kashitu Mujinga,
Opiyo Stephen Odong,
Chiara Castellani,
Luca Pavesi,
Patrick I. Mpingabo,
Steve Ahuka-Mundeke,
Silvia Di Agostino
Affiliations
Marco de Feo
Saint Mary’s Hospital, Lacor, Gulu P.O. Box 180, Uganda
Frédéric Dilu Tamba
Service of Maxillo-Facial Surgery and Stomatology, Department of General Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa H8J5+6PX, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Anguy Makaka Mutondo
School of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa H8J5+6PX, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Gracia Kashitu Mujinga
School of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa H8J5+6PX, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Odontogenic bone tumor (OT) is a rare pathology in the world, but it is very common in developing countries; its etiology is still unknown, and it causes serious deformities of the mandible and maxilla if it is not operated upon soon. Lassa virus (LASV) belongs to the Arenaviridae family, and its reservoir is a rodent of the genus Mastomys. The transmission of the LASV to humans can occur through ingestion or inhalation by contact with dirty objects, the consumption of contaminated food, or exposure to wounds, as rodents shed the virus in their urine and excrement. In this observational study, we aim to evaluate the presence of LASV in OT patient tissues collected in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. For this purpose, a group of nine patients affected by OT were enrolled, and the tissues derived from the surgery were collected. In total, 81.5% of the tissues were positive for LASV presence. Interestingly, we found that not only was the tumor LASV-positive, but in some cases, the bone was close to the tumor and the oral mucosa lining. These preliminary data could suggest the hypothesis that LASV may be involved with the onset of OT.
