Abstract:
The reservoir host of Mokola virus (MOKV), a rabies-related lyssavirus species endemic to
Africa, remains unknown. Only sporadic cases of MOKV have been reported since its first
discovery in the late 1960s, which subsequently gave rise to various reservoir host hypotheses.
One particular hypothesis focusing on non-volant small mammals (e.g. shrews, sengis and
rodents) is buttressed by previous MOKV isolations from shrews (Crocidura sp.) and a single
rodent (Lophuromys sikapusi). Although these cases were only once-off detections, it provided
evidence of the first known lyssavirus species has an association with non-volant small
mammals. To investigate further, retrospective surveillance was conducted in 575 small
mammals collected from South Africa. Nucleic acid surveillance using a pan-lyssavirus
quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay of 329
brain samples did not detect any lyssavirus ribonucleic acid (RNA). Serological surveillance
using a micro-neutralisation test of 246 serum samples identified 36 serum samples that were
positive for the presence of MOKV neutralising antibodies (VNAs). These serum samples were
all collected from Gerbilliscus leucogaster (Bushveld gerbils) rodents from Meletse in Limpopo
province (South Africa). Mokola virus infections in Limpopo province have never been
reported before, and the high MOKV seropositivity of 87.80% in these gerbils may indicate a
potential rodent reservoir.
