Ebola virus infection

Sullivan, N.J., A. Sanchez, RE. Rollin, Z.Y. Yang, and GJ. Nabel, Development of a preventive vaccine for Ebola virus infection in primates. Nature, 2000.408(6812) 605-9. 

Feldmann, H., Jones, S. M., Schnittler, H. J., Geisbert, T. (2005). Therapy and prophylaxis of Ebola virus infections. Current Opinion in Investigational Drugs, 6(8), 823-830. 

TKM-100802 L polymerase, viral protein 24, viral protein 35 SNALP i.v. Ebola virus infection... 

Geisbert, T.W., P. Pushko, K. Anderson, J. Smith, K.J. Davis, and PB. Jahriing, Evaluation in nonhuman primates of vaccines against Ebola virus. Emerg Infect Dis, 2002. 8(5) 503-7. 

The virus was eventually proved to be Marburg-like, and was worm-like in shape with a coil at one end, but was much more pathogenic than the Marburg virus. The new virus was named after the river Ebola that ran through Yambuku. These viruses are members of the family known as filoviruses. Separate outbreaks of Ebola virus occurred near Maridi and N zara in Sudan, with 284 cases and 151 deaths, which represented a somewhat better survival rate from that experienced around Yambuku where there were 318 cases and a mortality rate of around 90% of those infected. This high mortality was undoubtedly due to the use and reuse of unsterilised syringe needles, by the mission medical staff. More recently, in May 1995, there was another major outbreak, in Kikwit, Zaire, and to date, an animal reservoir for the Ebola virus has not been identified. 

Zaki SR, Shieh W-J, Greer PW, etal. A novel immunohistochemical assay for the detection of Ebola virus in skin implications for diagnosis, spread, and strrveillance of Ebola hemorrhagic iever. J Infect Dis. 1999 179(suppl 1) S36-S37. 

Wyers M, Formenty P, Cherel Y, et al. Histopathological and immrmohistochemical studies of lesions associated with Ebola virus in a nattrrally infected chimpanzee. J Infect Dis. 1999 179(suppl 1) S54-S59. 

Maruyama T, Parren P W, Sanchez A, et al. (1999). Recombinant human monoclonal antibodies to Ebola virus. J. Infect. Dis. 179(suppl l) S235-239. 

Ksiazek TG, Rollin PE, Jahrling PB, Johnson E, Dalgard DW, Peters CJ. Enzyme immunosorbent assay for Ebola virus antigens in tissues of infected primates. J Clin Microbiol. 1992 30(4) 947—950. 

Seed stocks of the AG group of biological agents are readily available in the natural environment and from culture collections in the industrialized and in some developing nations. The recent outbreaks of Ebola in Africa and Hanta virus infections in Asia and North and South America are evidence of this. In addition, these organisms may be obtained from national collections (e.g., American Type Culture Collection fATCCJ and European collections). 

The disease is caused by infection with Ebola virus, named after a river in the Democratic Republic of tbe Congo (formerly Zaire) in Africa, where it was first recognized. The virus is one of two members of a family of RN.A viruses called the Filovtridae. There are four identified subtypes of Ebola virus. Three of the four have caused disease in humans Ebola-Zaire, Ebola-Sudan, and Ebola-Ivory Coast. The fourth, Ebola-Reston. has caused disease in nonhuman primates, but not in humans. 

The exact origin, locations, and natural habitat (known as the "naniral reservoir") of Ebola virus remain unknown. However, on the basis of available evidence and the nature of similar viruses, researchers believe that the virus is zoonotic (animal-borne) and is normally maintained in an animal host that is native to the African continent. A similar host is probably associated with Ebola-Reston which was isolated from infected cynomolgous monkeys that were imported to the United States and Italy from the Philippines. The virus is not known to be native to other continents, such as North America. 

Infections with Ebola virus are acute. There is no carrier state. Because the natural reservoir of the virus is unknown, the manner in which the virus first appears in a human at the start of an outbreak has not been determined. However, researchers have hypothesized that the first patient becomes infected through contact with an infected animal. 

After the first case-patient in an outbreak setting is infected, the virus can be transmitted in several ways. People can be exposed to Ebola virus from direct contact with the blood and/or secretions of an infected person. Thus, the virus is often spread through families and friends because they come in close contact with such secretions when caring for infected persons. People can also be exposed to Ebola virus through contact with objects, such as needles, that have been contaminated with infected secretions. 

Diagnosing Ebola HF in an individual who has been infected only a tew days is difficult because early symptoms, such as red eyes and a skin rash, are nonspecific to the virus and are seen in other patients with diseases that occur much more frequently. However, if a person has the constellation of symptoms described above, and infection with Ebola virus is suspected, isolate the patient and notify local and state health departments and the CDC. 

---