HUNTING OF PERIDOMESTIC RODENTS AND CONSUMPTION OF THEIR MEAT AS POSSIBLE RISK-FACTORS FOR RODENT-TO-HUMAN TRANSMISSION OF LASSA VIRUS IN THE REPUBLIC-OF-GUINEA

In this population-based study, we correlated possible risk factors fo r rodent-to-human transmission of Lassa virus with markers of Lassa fe ver in two different regions of the Republic of Guinea (Prefectures of Pita and Gueckedou). Antibody prevalence was 2.6% (6 of 232) in Pita compared with 14.0% (105 of 751) in Gueckedou, with up to 35.0% seropo sitivity in selected villages of the higher prevalence area. We observ ed three major risk factors in Gueckedou favoring Lassa virus transmis sion: rodent infestation was much higher food was more often stored un covered and most strikingly, peridomestic rodents were hunted as a pro tein source by 91.5% of the population as opposed to 0% in Pita. To co ntrol for the confounding effects of differences in rodent infestation and food storage, rodent consumption was analyzed as a risk factor fo r transmission of Lassa virus comparing rodent consumers (RC) and nonc onsumers (NC) in Gueckedou only: 14.6% of RC had Lassa virus antibodie s versus 7.4% of NC (P = 0.1) and 23.0% of RC reported a history of a febrile illness with hearing loss (the most common sequel of Lassa fev er) versus 6.1% of NC (P = 0.003).