The Biosafety Research Road Map: The Search for Evidence to Support Practices in the Laboratory—Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever Virus and Lassa Virus
Issued Date
2023-12-01
Resource Type
ISSN
15356760
eISSN
24701246
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85180301157
Journal Title
Applied Biosafety
Volume
28
Issue
4
Start Page
216
End Page
229
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Applied Biosafety Vol.28 No.4 (2023) , 216-229
Suggested Citation
Blacksell S.D., Dhawan S., Kusumoto M., Le K.K., Summermatter K., O’Keefe J., Kozlovac J., Almuhairi S.S., Sendow I., Scheel C.M., Ahumibe A., Masuku Z.M., Bennett A.M., Kojima K., Harper D.R., Hamilton K. The Biosafety Research Road Map: The Search for Evidence to Support Practices in the Laboratory—Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever Virus and Lassa Virus. Applied Biosafety Vol.28 No.4 (2023) , 216-229. 229. doi:10.1089/apb.2022.0044 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/95605
Title
The Biosafety Research Road Map: The Search for Evidence to Support Practices in the Laboratory—Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever Virus and Lassa Virus
Author's Affiliation
Ministry for Primary Industries
World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)
Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional
UK Health Security Agency
Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control
National Institute for Communicable Diseases
Organisation Mondiale de la Santé
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Chatham House
University of Bern
Nuffield Department of Medicine
USDA ARS Beltsville Agricultural Research Center
Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority
World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)
Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional
UK Health Security Agency
Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control
National Institute for Communicable Diseases
Organisation Mondiale de la Santé
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Chatham House
University of Bern
Nuffield Department of Medicine
USDA ARS Beltsville Agricultural Research Center
Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Introduction: Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) virus and Lassa virus (LASV) are zoonotic agents regarded as high-consequence pathogens due to their high case fatality rates. CCHF virus is a vector-borne disease and is transmitted by tick bites. Lassa virus is spread via aerosolization of dried rat urine, ingesting infected rats, and direct contact with or consuming food and water contaminated with rat excreta. Methods: The scientific literature for biosafety practices has been reviewed for both these two agents to assess the evidence base and biosafety-related knowledge gaps. The review focused on five main areas, including the route of inoculation/modes of transmission, infectious dose, laboratory-acquired infections, containment releases, and disinfection and decontamination strategies. Results: There is a lack of data on the safe collection and handling procedures for tick specimens and the infectious dose from an infective tick bite for CCHF investigations. In addition, there are gaps in knowledge about gastrointestinal and contact infectious doses for Lassa virus, sample handling and transport procedures outside of infectious disease areas, and the contribution of asymptomatic carriers in viral circulation. Conclusion: Due to the additional laboratory hazards posed by these two agents, the authors recommend developing protocols that work effectively and safely in highly specialized laboratories in non-endemic regions and a laboratory with limited resources in endemic areas.