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Knowledge regarding LASV ecology remains limited in certain areas where Lassa fever continues to be incident and even recently emergent. Here, we assess community composition and LASV infection-status of small mammals in key localities across the Guinea savanna belt that spans the countries of Benin and Nigeria. Active LASV infection was determined by conventional (gel based)- and quantitative-PCR screening, while previous infection was determined by an immunofluorescent assay on IgG antibodies. Surprisingly,\n                    <jats:italic>M<\/jats:italic>\n                    .\n                    <jats:italic>natalensis<\/jats:italic>\n                    and\n                    <jats:italic>M. erythroleucus<\/jats:italic>\n                    , known to be sympatric across the Guinea savanna, co-occurred in only one locality and were PCR-negative for the virus; but showed IgG antibodies in localities endemic for Lassa fever within Nigeria. Viremia, alternately, was detected in\n                    <jats:italic>Mus<\/jats:italic>\n                    (\n                    <jats:italic>Nannomys<\/jats:italic>\n                    )\n                    <jats:italic>baoulei<\/jats:italic>\n                    and (a newly-discovered reservoir)\n                    <jats:italic>Lemniscomys striatus<\/jats:italic>\n                    , carrying relatively ancient LASV lineages, VIII &amp; IX respectively, within Benin. Our results suggest non-\n                    <jats:italic>Mastomys<\/jats:italic>\n                    rodents assume an increased role in LASV ecology within the Guinea savanna belt of Benin and Nigeria; especially in central Benin, which turns out to be a long-overlooked hotbed of early evolution, host-switching and contemporary emergence.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-026-51525-8","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,9]],"date-time":"2026-05-09T09:24:30Z","timestamp":1778318670000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Non-Mastomys rodents harbour ancient Lassa virus lineages within Benin and Nigeria\u2019s Guinea savanna belt"],"prefix":"10.1038","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Ayodeji","family":"Olayemi","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Adetunji Samuel","family":"Adesina","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Akinlabi","family":"Oyeyiola","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Adeoba","family":"Obadare","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Umaru","family":"Bangura","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nnennaya Anthony","family":"Ajayi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kingsley","family":"Ukwaja","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Liman","family":"Mohammed","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Adamu","family":"Ibrahim","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Toni","family":"Rieger","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Stephan","family":"G\u00fcnther","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Anges","family":"Yadouleton","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Elisabeth","family":"Fichet-Calvet","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,9]]},"reference":[{"key":"51525_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Basinski, A. 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Science 185(4147), 263\u2013265. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1126\/science.185.4147.263 (1974).","DOI":"10.1126\/science.185.4147.263"},{"issue":"12","key":"51525_CR4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1971","DOI":"10.3201\/eid1212.060812","volume":"12","author":"E Lecompte","year":"2006","unstructured":"Lecompte, E. et al. Mastomys natalensi s and Lassa Fever, West Africa. Emerg. Infect. Dis. 12 (12), 1971\u20131974. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3201\/eid1212.060812 (2006).","journal-title":"Emerg. Infect. Dis."},{"key":"51525_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Safronetz, D. et al. Geographic distribution and genetic characterization of Lassa virus in Sub-Saharan Mali. PLoS Negl. Trop. Dis. 7 (12), e2582. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pntd.0002582 (2013).","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0002582"},{"key":"51525_CR6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Kouadio, L. et al. Lassa virus in multimammate rats, C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire, 2013. Emerg. Infect. 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No experiments were conducted on live animals in this study. Captured small mammals do not belong to endangered species\n                      65\n                      and were euthanised humanely by inhalation of isoflurane according to specifications of the American Veterinary Medical Association\n                      66\n                      . All methods were carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations.","order":3,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Ethics declaration"}}],"article-number":"21306"}}