Seoul virus is a zoonotic pathogen carried by the brown rat Rattus norvegicus. Information on its circulation in Africa is limited. In this study, the virus was detected in 37.5% of brown rats captured in the Autonomous Port of Cotonou, Benin. Phylogenetic analyses place this virus in Seoul virus lineage 7.
Keywords: Africa; Benin; Cotonou; Rattus norvegicus; SEOV; Seoul orthohantavirus; Seoul virus; rats; respiratory infections; rodents; seaport; trade; viruses; zoonoses.