Morogoro virus

{{Short description|East African arenavirus infecting the multimammate mouse}}

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| parent = Mammarenavirus

| virus = Morogoro virus

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Morogoro virus is an East African arenavirus infecting the multimammate mouse (Mastomys natalensis).{{cite journal |vauthors=Günther S, Hoofd G, Charrel R, Röser C, Becker-Ziaja B, Lloyd G, Sabuni C, Verhagen R, van der Groen G, Kennis J, Katakweba A, Machang'u R, Makundi R, Leirs H |date=December 2009 |title=Mopeia virus-related arenavirus in natal multimammate mice, Morogoro, Tanzania |journal=Emerg Infect Dis |volume=15 |issue=12 |pages=2008–2012 |doi=10.3201/eid1512.090864 |pmc=3044542 |pmid=19961688}} The virus is genetically closely related to Lassa virus, known to cause Lassa fever in humans. Morogoro virus, however, does not seem to infect humans. Transmission of Morogoro virus between mice is assumed to occur via direct and indirect contact.{{cite journal |vauthors=Borremans B, Leirs H, Gryseels S, Günther S, Makundi R, de Bellocq JG |date=August 2011 |title=Presence of Mopeia virus, an African arenavirus, related to biotope and individual rodent host characteristics: implications for virus transmission |journal=Vector Borne Zootic Dis |volume=11 |issue=8 |pages=1125–1131 |doi=10.1089/vbz.2010.0010 |pmid=21142956}} Infected animals pass a latent period of 7 days and subsequently shed the virus for about 30 days, after which they recover and develop lifelong antibodies.{{cite journal |vauthors=Borremans B, Vossen R, Becker-Ziaja B, Gryseels S, Hughes N, Van Gestel M, Van Houtte N, Günther S, Leirs H |date=29 May 2015 |title=Shedding dynamics of Morogoro virus, an African arenavirus closely related to Lassa virus, in its natural reservoir host Mastomys natalensis |journal=Sci Rep |volume=5 |issue= |page=10445 |doi=10.1038/srep10445 |pmc=4448520 |pmid=26022445|bibcode=2015NatSR...510445B }} Transmission may also be possible from infected mothers to offspring and through sexual contact, as this has been suggested for other arenaviruses.{{cite journal |vauthors=Fichet-Calvet E, Becker-Ziaja B, Koivogui L, Günther S |date=September 2014 |title=Lassa serology in natural populations of rodents and horizontal transmission |journal=Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis |volume=14 |issue=9 |pages=665–674 |doi=10.1089/vbz.2013.1484 |pmc=4170823 |pmid=25229705}}{{cite journal |vauthors=Webb PA, Justines G, Johnson KM |year=1975 |title=Infection of wild and laboratory animals with Machupo and Latino viruses |journal=Bull World Health Organ |volume=52 |issue=4–6 |pages=493–499 |doi= |pmc=2366657 |pmid=182399}}