Here, we provide evidence that in cells infected with the Lassa fever (LF) vaccine candidate ML29, a reassortant that carries the nucleoprotein (NP) and glycoprotein (GP) dominant antigens of the pathogenic Lassa virus (LASV) together with the L polymerase and Z matrix protein of the non-pathogenic genetically related Mopeia virus (MOPV), L-derived truncated RNA species are readily detected following infection at low multiplicity of infection (MOI) or in persistently-infected cells originally infected at high MOI. Here, ART4 is linked to infection.