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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
Lassa hemorrhagic fever in a late term pregnancy from northern sierra leone with a positive maternal outcome: Case report
Virology Journal, Volume 8, Article 404, Year 2011
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Description
Lassa fever (LF) is a devastating viral disease prevalent in West Africa. Efforts to take on this public health crisis have been hindered by lack of infrastructure and rapid field deployable diagnosis in areas where the disease is prevalent. Recent capacity building at the Kenema Government Hospital Lassa Fever Ward (KGH LFW) in Sierra Leone has lead to a major turning point in the diagnosis, treatment and study of LF. Herein we present the first comprehensive rapid diagnosis and real time characterization of an acute hemorrhagic LF case at KGH LFW. This case report focuses on a third trimester pregnant Sierra Leonean woman from the historically non-endemic Northern district of Tonkolili who survived the illness despite fetal demise. Employed in this study were newly developed recombinant LASV Antigen Rapid Test cassettes and dipstick lateral flow immunoassays (LFI) that enabled the diagnosis of LF within twenty minutes of sample collection. Deregulation of overall homeostasis, significant hepatic and renal system involvement, and immunity profiles were extensively characterized during the course of hospitalization. Rapid diagnosis, prompt treatment with a full course of intravenous (IV) ribavirin, IV fluids management, and real time monitoring of clinical parameters resulted in a positive maternal outcome despite admission to the LFW seven days post onset of symptoms, fetal demise, and a natural still birth delivery. These studies solidify the growing rapid diagnostic, treatment, and surveillance capabilities at the KGH LF Laboratory, and the potential to significantly improve the current high mortality rate caused by LF. As a result of the growing capacity, we were also able to isolate Lassa virus (LASV) RNA from the patient and perform Sanger sequencing where we found significant genetic divergence from commonly circulating Sierra Leonean strains, showing potential for the discovery of a newly emerged LASV strain with expanded geographic distribution. Furthermore, recent emergence of LF cases in Northern Sierra Leone highlights the need for superior diagnostics to aid in the monitoring of LASV strain divergence with potentially increased geographic expansion. © 2011 Branco et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Available Materials
https://efashare.b-cdn.net/share/pmc/articles/PMC3177908/bin/1743-422X-8-404-S1.PPT
https://efashare.b-cdn.net/share/pmc/articles/PMC3177908/bin/1743-422X-8-404-S2.PPT
https://efashare.b-cdn.net/share/pmc/articles/PMC3177908/bin/1743-422X-8-404-S3.PPT
https://efashare.b-cdn.net/share/pmc/articles/PMC3177908/bin/1743-422X-8-404-S4.PPT
https://efashare.b-cdn.net/share/pmc/articles/PMC3177908/bin/1743-422X-8-404-S5.DOCX
https://efashare.b-cdn.net/share/pmc/articles/PMC3177908/bin/1743-422X-8-404-S6.DOC
Authors & Co-Authors
Branco, Luis M.
United States, New Orleans
Tulane University
United States, New Orleans
Autoimmune Technologies, Llc
Boisen, Matt L.
United States, Broomfield
Corgenix Medical Corporation
Andersen, Kristian G.
United States, Cambridge
Harvard University
Grove, Jessica N.
United States, New Orleans
Tulane University
Moses, Lina M.
United States, New Orleans
Tulane University
Muncy, Ivana J.
United States, Broomfield
Corgenix Medical Corporation
Henderson, Lee A.
United States, Ithaca
Vybion Inc.
Schieffellin, John S.
United States, New Orleans
Tulane University
Robinson, James E.
United States, New Orleans
Tulane University
Bangura, James J.
Sierra Leone
Ministry of Health and Sanitation Workplace Health
United States, San Francisco
Global Viral Forecasting Initiative
Grant, Donald Samuel
Sierra Leone
Ministry of Health and Sanitation Workplace Health
Sierra Leone
Kenema Government Hospital Lassa Fever Ward
Raabe, Vanessa N.
United States, Minneapolis
University of Minnesota Medical School
Fonnie, Mbalu
Sierra Leone
Kenema Government Hospital Lassa Fever Ward
Sabeti., Pardis C.
United States, Cambridge
Harvard University
United States, Cambridge
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Garry, Robert F.
United States, New Orleans
Tulane University
Statistics
Citations: 61
Authors: 15
Affiliations: 10
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1186/1743-422X-8-404
e-ISSN:
1743422X
Research Areas
Genetics And Genomics
Health System And Policy
Maternal And Child Health
Sexual And Reproductive Health
Study Locations
Multi-countries
Sierra Leone
Participants Gender
Female