Presence of Lassa Virus RNA in Cerebrospinal Fluid Indicating Neuroinvasive Lassa Fever in Pediatric Patients From Edo State, Nigeria - Summary - MDSpire

Presence of Lassa Virus RNA in Cerebrospinal Fluid Indicating Neuroinvasive Lassa Fever in Pediatric Patients From Edo State, Nigeria

  • By

  • Hannah Caroline Sophie Müller

  • Cyril Oshomah Erameh

  • Joseph Okoeguale

  • Sheila Ojor Ileli

  • Imonifome Frank Onyeke

  • Adewale Elijah Adetunji

  • Lilian Omoyemen Akerele

  • Rita Esumeh

  • Ebo Benevolence Ohomoime

  • Mette Hinrichs

  • Jonas Müller

  • Ujiagbe Moses Aiterebhe

  • Christiana Ngozi Ekuma

  • Chukwuemeka Ogbuinya Ugadu

  • Ifeanyi Henry Onyerikam

  • Juliet Oemhenze Idialu-Eigbobo

  • Matthew Apeleokha

  • Ehisuan Ehiaghe

  • Osahogie Isaac Edeawe

  • Kelly Ohis Iraoyah

  • Chris Hoffmann

  • Donatus Adomeh

  • Thomas Olokor

  • Ikponmwosa Odia

  • Danny Asogun

  • Sylvanus Okogbenin

  • Ephraim Ogbaini-Emovon

  • Reuben Eifediyi

  • Stephan Günther

  • Meike Pahlmann

  • Michael Ramharter

  • Lisa Oestereich

  • Till Omansen

  • George Akpede

  • November 25, 2025

  • 0 min

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Objective:

To provide evidence of Lassa virus (LASV) infection of the central nervous system (CNS) by assessing LASV in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of pediatric patients with suspected or confirmed Lassa fever (LF), highlighting the significance of this assessment for understanding neuroinvasive Lassa fever.

Key Findings:
  • LF confirmed in 49 of 153 (32%) patients; 42 (86%) were LASV RNA positive in CSF, indicating a significant prevalence.
  • 33 (79%) patients were LASV RNA positive in both CSF and plasma; 9 (21%) were positive in CSF only, suggesting potential CNS-specific replication.
  • CSF-positive LF patients had a median age of 10.5 years, emphasizing the pediatric focus of the study.
  • In 26 patients with paired CSF and plasma samples, 23 (88%) had higher LASV RNA concentration in CSF than in plasma, indicating a critical finding for understanding viral behavior.
Interpretation:

LASV is frequently detected in CSF of pediatric LF patients with neurological symptoms, indicating neuroinvasive infection with higher virus replication in the CNS compared to plasma, which has significant implications for clinical management.

Limitations:
  • Retrospective design may introduce selection bias, potentially affecting the generalizability of the findings.
  • Reliance on clinical management decisions for sample collection may limit the comprehensiveness of the data.
Conclusion:

Findings suggest that LASV may directly infect the CNS, which has important implications for clinical management and drug development for LF, particularly in light of limited treatment options.

Original Source(s)

Presence of Lassa Virus RNA in Cerebrospinal Fluid Indicating Neuroinvasive Lassa Fever in Pediatric Patients From Edo State, Nigeria

  • by Hannah Caroline Sophie Müller, Cyril Oshomah Erameh, Joseph Okoeguale, Sheila Ojor Ileli, Imonifome Frank Onyeke, Adewale Elijah Adetunji, Lilian Omoyemen Akerele, Rita Esumeh, Ebo Benevolence Ohomoime, Mette Hinrichs, Jonas Müller, Ujiagbe Moses Aiterebhe, Christiana Ngozi Ekuma, Chukwuemeka Ogbuinya Ugadu, Ifeanyi Henry Onyerikam, Juliet Oemhenze Idialu-Eigbobo, Matthew Apeleokha, Ehisuan Ehiaghe, Osahogie Isaac Edeawe, Kelly Ohis Iraoyah, Chris Hoffmann, Donatus Adomeh, Thomas Olokor, Ikponmwosa Odia, Danny Asogun, Sylvanus Okogbenin, Ephraim Ogbaini-Emovon, Reuben Eifediyi, Stephan Günther, Meike Pahlmann, Michael Ramharter, Lisa Oestereich, Till Omansen, George Akpede

  • November 25, 2025

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