A seroepidemiologic study of Reston ebolavirus in swine in the Philippines

Abstract

BackgroundEbola viruses cause viral hemorrhagic fever in humans and non-human primates and are endemic in Africa. Reston ebolavirus (REBOV) has caused several epizootics in cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) but is not associated with any human disease. In late 2008, REBOV infections were identified in swine for the first time in the Philippines.MethodsA total of 215 swine sera collected at two REBOV-affected farms in 2008, in Pangasinan and Bulacan, were tested for the presence of REBOV-specific antibodies using multiple serodiagnosis systems. A total of 98 swine sera collected in a non-epizootic region, Tarlac, were also tested to clarify the prevalence of REBOV infection in the general swine population in the Philippines.ResultsSome 70 % of swine sera at the affected farms were positive for REBOV antibodies in the multiple serodiagnosis systems. On the other hand, none of the swine sera collected in Tarlac showed positive reactions in any of the diagnosis systems.ConclusionsThe high prevalence of REBOV infection in swine in the affected farms in 2008 suggests that swine is susceptible for REBOV infection. The multiple serological assays used in the study are thought to be useful for future surveillance of REOBV infection in swine in the Philippines.

Vaccines against ‘the other’Ebolavirusspecies

“…Interestingly, animals that received the blended vaccine showed clinical symptoms and succumbed to disease; however, the group that received sequential vaccinations showed 100% survival 53 Thus, the potential for the use of Reston virus as a bioterrorist agent to disrupt food and agricultural production cannot be discounted. Moreover, there have been numerous imported cases to animal facilities, both in the USA and Europe, highlighting possibility of an accidental outbreak 55 . It is interesting to note that RESTV is genetically more closely related to SUDV 10 than other species, and thus, there is the potential that vaccines encoding SUDV antigens may provide a degree of cross-protection against RESTV.…”

Une première épidémie de fièvre à virus Ebola en Afrique de l’Ouest

“…Plus récemment, un nouveau genre de filovirus a été génétiquement identifié dans le nord de la péninsule ibérique (le virus Lloviu) [14], ce qui élargit encore la zone de circulation des filovirus. La présence de foyers massifs de virus Ebola Reston (n'étant pas actuellement identifié comme pathogène pour l'homme) en Asie du Sud-Est (Philippines) vient encore conforter l'hypothèse d'une circulation quasi planétaire des filovirus [15]. La question de la zone d'extension maximale des épidémies à virus Ebola est donc à considérer avec un très grand sérieux, d'autant plus que des études ont montré que le virus Ebola Zaïre pouvait s'adapter à un nouvel hôte murin grâce à …”

Ebola Virus ? A Global Threat

“…11 Now-a-days, RT-PCR and antigen detection ELISA are the primary assays to diagnose an acute infection. Viral antigen and nucleic acid can be detected in blood from day 3 up to [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] Treatment EBOV infections are a public health concern because of the high mortality rate and lack of prophylactic and therapeutic interventions as no specific antiviral treatment is available at present. 55 Severely ill patients require intensive supportive care which includes oxygen, blood pressure medication, blood transfusions, rehydration with intravenous fluids containing electrolytes and treatment for other infections.…”

“…11 Reston Ebolavirus has caused disease in nonhuman primates but not in humans in the Philippines. 12 The recent ongoing epidemic is caused by the ZEBOV and has been the most severe outbreak since Ebola virus was first identified in 1976. 13 No previous outbreak has been as large or persistent as the current epidemic.…”