Morogoro virus is an East African
arenavirus infecting the
multimammate mouse
The Natal multimammate mouse (''Mastomys natalensis'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is also known as the Natal multimammate rat, the common African rat, or the African soft-furred mouse. The Natal multimammate rat is the natu ...
(''Mastomys natalensis'').
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. 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. Transmission may also be possible from infected mothers to offspring and through sexual contact, as this has been suggested for other arenaviruses.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q28870941
Arenaviridae
Animal virology