1. Phylogeography of Lassa Virus in Nigeria
- Author
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Ehichioya, Deborah, Dellicour, Simon, Pahlmann, Meike, Rieger, Toni, Oestereich, Lisa, Becker-Ziaja, Beate, Cadar, Daniel, Ighodalo, Yemisi, Olokor, Thomas, Omomoh, Emmanuel, Oyakhilome, Jennifer, Omiunu, Racheal, Agbukor, Jacqueline, Ebo, Benevolence, Aiyepada, John, Ebhodaghe, Paulson, Osiemi, Blessing, Ehikhametalor, Solomon, Akhilomen, Patience, Airende, Michael, Esumeh, Rita, Muoebonam, Ekene, Giwa, Rosemary, Ekanem, Anieno, Igenegbale, Ganiyu, Odigie, George, Okonofua, Grace, Enigbe, Racheal, Omonegho Yerumoh, Edna, Pallasch, Elisa, Bockholt, Sabrina, Kafetzopoulou, Liana Eleni, Duraffour, Sophie, Okokhere, Peter, Akpede, George, Okogbenin, Sylvanus, Odia, Ikponmwosa, Aire, Chris, Akpede, Nosa, Tobin, Ekaete Alice, Ogbaini-Emovon, Ephraim, Lemey, Philippe, Adomeh, Donatus I., Asogun, Danny, Günther, Stephan, Ehichioya, Deborah, Dellicour, Simon, Pahlmann, Meike, Rieger, Toni, Oestereich, Lisa, Becker-Ziaja, Beate, Cadar, Daniel, Ighodalo, Yemisi, Olokor, Thomas, Omomoh, Emmanuel, Oyakhilome, Jennifer, Omiunu, Racheal, Agbukor, Jacqueline, Ebo, Benevolence, Aiyepada, John, Ebhodaghe, Paulson, Osiemi, Blessing, Ehikhametalor, Solomon, Akhilomen, Patience, Airende, Michael, Esumeh, Rita, Muoebonam, Ekene, Giwa, Rosemary, Ekanem, Anieno, Igenegbale, Ganiyu, Odigie, George, Okonofua, Grace, Enigbe, Racheal, Omonegho Yerumoh, Edna, Pallasch, Elisa, Bockholt, Sabrina, Kafetzopoulou, Liana Eleni, Duraffour, Sophie, Okokhere, Peter, Akpede, George, Okogbenin, Sylvanus, Odia, Ikponmwosa, Aire, Chris, Akpede, Nosa, Tobin, Ekaete Alice, Ogbaini-Emovon, Ephraim, Lemey, Philippe, Adomeh, Donatus I., Asogun, Danny, and Günther, Stephan
- Abstract
Lassa virus is genetically diverse with several lineages circulating in West Africa. This study aimed at describing the sequence variability of Lassa virus across Nigeria and inferring its spatiotemporal evolution. We sequenced and isolated 77 Lassa virus strains from 16 Nigerian states. The final data set, including previous works, comprised metadata and sequences of 219 unique strains sampled between 1969 and 2018 in 22 states. Most of this data originated from Lassa fever patients diagnosed at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Edo State, Nigeria. The majority of sequences clustered with the main Nigerian lineages II and III, while a few sequences formed a new cluster related to Lassa virus strains from Hylomyscus pamfi .Within lineages II and III, seven and five sublineages, respectively, were distinguishable. Phylogeographic analysis suggests an origin of lineage II in the southeastern part of the country around Ebonyi State and a main vector of dispersal toward the west across the Niger River, through Anambra, Kogi, Delta, and Edo into Ondo State. The frontline of virus dispersal appears to be in Ondo. Minor vectors are directed northeast toward Taraba and Adamawa and south toward Imo and Rivers. Lineage III might have spread from northern Plateau State into Kaduna, Nasarawa, Federal Capital Territory, and Bauchi. One sublineage moved south and crossed the Benue River into Benue State. This study provides a geographic mapping of lineages and phylogenetic clusters in Nigeria at a higher resolution. In addition, we estimated the direction and time frame of virus dispersal in the country. IMPORTANCE Lassa virus is the causative agent of Lassa fever, a viral hemorrhagic fever with a case fatality rate of approximately 30% in Africa. Previous studies disclosed a geographical pattern in the distribution of Lassa virus strains and a westward movement of the virus across West Africa during evolution. Our study provides a deeper understanding of the geography, SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published
- Published
- 2019