Lymphozytäres Choriomeningitisvirus in Deutschland – ein vernachlässigter Zoonoseerreger

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV, species Mammarenavirus choriomeningitidis) is a globally distributed zoonotic pathogen transmitted by house mice (Mus musculus). In humans, LCMV infection is often asymptomatic or associated with self-limited febrile disease, but in severe cases it can cause meningitis and encephalitis. Prenatal infection with LCMV is also of particular concern as it can result in severe birth defects and/or fetal death. In New World primates, LCMV infection also causes severe disease in the form of lethal callitrichid hepatitis. Despite growing appreciation for the relevance of LCMV in both human and animal disease, infections remain underreported around the world. This review focuses on the transmission and health consequences of LCMV, as well as its global distribution, and particularly the history of LCMV infections and disease outbreaks in Germany. Recent findings of novel LCMV lineages in additional host species are also discussed with respect to their implications for virus ecology. Taken together, the evidence suggests that LCMV occurs in localised populations with high local prevalence and continued positivity over time. Further, the recent detection of novel LCMV lineages in wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) and the presence of reactive antibodies in a variety of animals suggest that additional reservoirs of LCMV may also exist. This, combined with the high genetic diversity and global distribution of LCMV, highlights the need for increased screening efforts in both humans and animals to more fully understand the ecology of LCMV and the risk for future transmission and outbreak events in humans and susceptible animal species.