Luna Virus and Helminths in Wild <i>Mastomys natalensis</i> in Two Contrasting Habitats in Zambia: Risk Factors and Evidence of Virus Dissemination in Semen
Samuel Munalula Munjita,
Given Moonga,
Andrew Nalishuwa Mukubesa,
Joseph Ndebe,
Benjamin Mubemba,
Manu Vanaerschot,
Cristina Tato,
John Tembo,
Nathan Kapata,
Simbarashe Chitanga,
Katendi Changula,
Mashiro Kajihara,
Walter Muleya,
Ayato Takada,
Elisabeth Fichet-Calvet,
Alimuddin Zumla,
Hirofumi Sawa,
Matthew Bates,
Sody Munsaka,
Edgar Simulundu
Affiliations
Samuel Munalula Munjita
Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
Given Moonga
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Zambia, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
Andrew Nalishuwa Mukubesa
Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
Joseph Ndebe
Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
Benjamin Mubemba
Department of Wildlife Sciences, School of Natural Resources, Copperbelt University, Kitwe 50100, Zambia
Manu Vanaerschot
Chan-Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
Cristina Tato
Chan-Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
John Tembo
HerpeZ, University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
Nathan Kapata
Zambia National Public Health Institute, Ministry of Health, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
Simbarashe Chitanga
Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
Katendi Changula
Department of Paraclinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
Mashiro Kajihara
Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
Walter Muleya
Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
Ayato Takada
Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
Elisabeth Fichet-Calvet
Department of Virology/Disease Ecology, Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht Strasse 74, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
Alimuddin Zumla
Division of Infection and Immunity, Centre for Clinical Microbiology, University College London, NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London NW3 2PF, UK
Hirofumi Sawa
Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
Matthew Bates
HerpeZ, University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
Sody Munsaka
Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
Edgar Simulundu
Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
Transmission dynamics and the maintenance of mammarenaviruses in nature are poorly understood. Using metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) and RT-PCR, we investigated the presence of mammarenaviruses and co-infecting helminths in various tissues of 182 Mastomys natalensis rodents and 68 other small mammals in riverine and non-riverine habitats in Zambia. The Luna virus (LUAV) genome was the only mammarenavirus detected (7.7%; 14/182) from M. natalensis. Only one rodent from the non-riverine habitat was positive, while all six foetuses from one pregnant rodent carried LUAV. LUAV-specific mNGS reads were 24-fold higher in semen than in other tissues from males. Phylogenetically, the viruses were closely related to each other within the LUAV clade. Helminth infections were found in 11.5% (21/182) of M. natalensis. LUAV–helminth co-infections were observed in 50% (7/14) of virus-positive rodents. Juvenility (OR = 9.4; p = 0.018; 95% CI: 1.47–59.84), nematodes (OR = 15.5; p = 0.001; 95% CI: 3.11–76.70), cestodes (OR = 10.8; p = 0.025; 95% CI: 1.35–86.77), and being male (OR = 4.6; p = 0.036; 95% CI: 1.10–18.90) were associated with increased odds of LUAV RNA detection. The role of possible sexual and/or congenital transmission in the epidemiology of LUAV infections in rodents requires further study, along with the implications of possible helminth co-infection.
