Abstract Mastomys natalensis is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa and hosts several arenavirus species, including the pathogenic zoonotic Lassa virus in West Africa. Mitochondrial lineages sub-divide the range of M. natalensis and have been associated with cryptic structure within the species. To test specificity of arenaviruses to hosts carrying these lineages, we screened 1772 M. natalensis in a large area of Tanzania where three mitochondrial lineages meet. We detected fifty-two individuals that were positive for one of three arenaviruses: Gairo, Morogoro, and Luna virus. This is the first record of Luna virus in Tanzania. We confirmed the specificity of each arenavirus to a distinct host mitochondrial lineage except for three cases in one locality at the centre of a host hybrid zone. No arenaviruses were detected in a large part of the study area. Morogoro and Gairo virus showed differences in prevalence (Morogoro virus lower than Gairo virus) and in genetic structure (Morogoro virus more structured than Gairo virus). However, both viruses have genetic neighbourhood size estimates of the same order of magnitude as Lassa virus. While differences in arenavirus and/or host evolutionary and ecological dynamics may exist, Tanzanian arenaviruses could be suited to model Lassa virus dynamics in M. natalensis.

中文翻译：

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坦桑尼亚三个亚特异性 Natal 多哺乳动物小鼠分类群中的三个沙粒病毒：相同的宿主特异性，但不同的空间遗传结构？

摘要 Mastomys natalensis 广泛分布于撒哈拉以南非洲，并宿主多种沙粒病毒，包括西非的致病性人畜共患拉沙病毒。线粒体谱系细分了 M. natalensis 的范围，并且与物种内的隐秘结构有关。为了测试沙粒病毒对携带这些谱系的宿主的特异性，我们在三个线粒体谱系相遇的坦桑尼亚大片地区筛选了 1772 M.natalensis。我们检测到 52 个人对三种沙粒病毒之一呈阳性：Gairo、Morogoro 和 Luna 病毒。这是坦桑尼亚首次记录到月球病毒。我们证实了每种沙粒病毒对不同宿主线粒体谱系的特异性，除了宿主杂交区中心一个地方的三个病例。在研究区域的大部分区域未检测到沙粒病毒。Morogoro 和 Gairo 病毒在流行率（Morogoro 病毒低于 Gairo 病毒）和遗传结构（Morogoro 病毒比 Gairo 病毒结构化）方面表现出差异。然而，这两种病毒都具有与拉沙病毒相同数量级的遗传邻域大小估计值。虽然沙粒病毒和/或宿主进化和生态动态可能存在差异，但坦桑尼亚沙粒病毒可能适合模拟拉沙病毒在 M. natalensis 中的动态。