The commensal rodent Mastomys natalensis is the natural reservoir of Lassa arenavirus(LASV),which causes hemorrhagic fever in West Africa.To study a possible effect of the virus on phenotypic and genotypic variation o...The commensal rodent Mastomys natalensis is the natural reservoir of Lassa arenavirus(LASV),which causes hemorrhagic fever in West Africa.To study a possible effect of the virus on phenotypic and genotypic variation of its persistently infected host,we compared LASV-positive and non-infected wild-caught M.natalensis.The LASV effects on the phenotypic variation were explored using standard external morphometric measurements,geometric morphometric analyses of the cranial size and shape,and brain case volume.The genetic variability of M.natalensis specimens was assessed using 9 polymorphic microsatellite markers.Independent of sex and age,LASV-infected animals had smaller external body measurements,reproductive organs,skull size and brain case volume.Cranial shape differences between the 2 groups are represented by a lateral constriction of the entire skull.The genetic variability revealed consanguinity only among the LASV-positive rodents.We hypothesize that growth impairment may result in a selective disadvantage for LASV-infected M.natalensis,leading to a preferably commensal lifestyle in areas where the LAVS is endemic and,thereby,increasing the risk of LASV transmission to humans.展开更多
基金Research was conducted under Permit Number(2003/PFHG/05/GUI)from the Health Ministry of Guinea.We thank the CHU Donka team(PFHG-Guinea)and E.Fichet-Calvet for field work assistance,the“Service de Systématique Moléculaire of the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle(UMS 2700 OMSI MNHN,Paris,France)for use of their molecular genetics laboratory,and J.Lambourdière for lab assistance.We are grateful to Dr E.Lecompte and Dr J.ter Meulen for virological analysis and for their input to the study,and to Dr R.Leblois for his support.This study benefited from the morphometrics facility of the Paris Muséum(UMS 2700 CNRS–MNHN:“Plateforme de Morphométrie”).We also thank J.B.Langlois and J.R Huet for help with image analysis(Plateforme ANIMAGE,CREATIS-LRMN).We also thank A.Herrel,M.Joron and K.Gavrilchuk for helpful comments on an earlier version of the manuscript.This is publication ISEM 2015-165.This study was financially supported by the European Commission(INCO-DEV grant ICA4-CT2002-10050),by a doctoral thesis grant from“Bourse Internationale de la Ville de Paris”and by the GDR CNRS 2474 Morphométrie et Evolution des Formes.
文摘The commensal rodent Mastomys natalensis is the natural reservoir of Lassa arenavirus(LASV),which causes hemorrhagic fever in West Africa.To study a possible effect of the virus on phenotypic and genotypic variation of its persistently infected host,we compared LASV-positive and non-infected wild-caught M.natalensis.The LASV effects on the phenotypic variation were explored using standard external morphometric measurements,geometric morphometric analyses of the cranial size and shape,and brain case volume.The genetic variability of M.natalensis specimens was assessed using 9 polymorphic microsatellite markers.Independent of sex and age,LASV-infected animals had smaller external body measurements,reproductive organs,skull size and brain case volume.Cranial shape differences between the 2 groups are represented by a lateral constriction of the entire skull.The genetic variability revealed consanguinity only among the LASV-positive rodents.We hypothesize that growth impairment may result in a selective disadvantage for LASV-infected M.natalensis,leading to a preferably commensal lifestyle in areas where the LAVS is endemic and,thereby,increasing the risk of LASV transmission to humans.
