EMILIO AGUINALDO COLLEGE

Gov. D. Mangubat Ave., Brgy. Burol Main, City of Dasmariñas, Cavite 4114, Philippines
Tel. Nos. (046) 416-4339/41 www.eac.edu.ph

SCHOOL OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

Ricafort, Sean Christopher R. 03/24/2023

MMLS 3-2

MYCOLOGY-VIROLOGY
ASSIGNMENT #2

EPIDEMIOLOGY OF VIRUSES

1.
a) Taxonomy
Family: Filoviridae
Genus: Ebolavirus
Species: Bundibugyo ebolavirus, Reston ebolavirus, Sudan ebolavirus, Taï Forest ebolavirus, Zaire
ebolavirus, Bombali ebolavirus
b) Scientific name
- Zaire ebolavirus
c) Synonyms or Cross Reference
- Also known as African haemorrhagic fever, Ebola haemorrhagic fever (EHF, Ebola HF, Ebola),
Filovirus, Ebola virus (EBOV), Zaire virus (EBOV), Sudan virus (SUDV), Ivory Coast ebolavirus
(ICEBOV), Taï Forest virus (TAFV), Ebola-Reston (REBOV, EBO-R, Reston virus, (RESTV),
Bundibugyo virus (BDBV), Bombali virus (BOMV) and Ebola virus disease (EVD).
d) Viral Morphology
- Ebolaviruses are an elongated filamentous virus, which can vary between 800 - 1000 nm in
length, and can reach up to 14,000 nm long (due to concatemerization) with a uniform diameter
of 80 nm.
e) Characteristics (Morphological, Cultural, Biochemical, etc.)
- The viral life cycle is started upon virus entry in the cell by micropinocytosis, which makes use of
the interaction of the GP envelope protein with cell surface determinants. Ebolaviruses exhibit a
broad cell tropism, with several cell types supporting viral replication, including: monocytes,
macrophages, dendritic cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, hepatocytes, and adrenal cortical cells.
- In the cytoplasm of the host cell, where virus replication starts, the viral DNA is liberated.
Replication requires the L protein, which also contains the NP, VP35, and VP30 subunits and the
RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) domain. Following nucleocapsid synthesis, which is
liberated from the host cell plasma membrane by budding, virion assembly occurs. Ebolaviruses
are extremely contagious because they can slip past the immune system. By inhibiting the type I
interferon response, the structural proteins VP24 and VP35 of the ebolavirus contribute to
immune evasion.
2. Pathogenicity
- Ebolaviruses can enter a person's body through their mucous membranes, skin tears, or
injections. Many different cell types, including monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells,
endothelial cells, fibroblasts, hepatocytes, adrenal cortical cells, and epithelial cells, are
susceptible to infection by these viruses. The method by which the virus entered the body may
affect how long it takes for symptoms to manifest. When a virus enters the body, it first infects
the area where it first manifests itself, then spreads to nearby lymph nodes and eventually to

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Gov. D. Mangubat Ave., Brgy. Burol Main, City of Dasmariñas, Cavite 4114, Philippines
Tel. Nos. (046) 416-4339/41 www.eac.edu.ph

SCHOOL OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

other organs like the liver, spleen, and adrenal gland. Although ebolaviruses do not directly infect
lymphocytes, they are capable of destroying them, which reduces the total amount of
lymphocytes. A disturbance in the clotting process and issues with blood coagulation can result
from liver damage. A drop in blood pressure and issues with hormone production can result from
an adrenal gland disorder. Pro-inflammatory cytokines are thought to be released by
Ebolaviruses, which can lead to blood vessel leakage, multiple organ failure, and shock.
3. Epidemiology
- Except for Reston virus, which has been linked to the Philippines, most frequently occurs in
equatorial Africa's surroundings of rain forests. Among infected individuals, there are no known
risk factors for infection. After the first cases of the Ebola virus were discovered in Guinea,
additional cases were later found in the nearby countries of Nigeria, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
The largest recorded Ebola virus outbreak to date started in December 2013. More than 10,000
deaths and more than 20,000 suspected, probable, and confirmed cases of the Ebola virus have
been attributed to a new strain that was found to be the outbreak's causal agent.
4. Host Range
- The ebolavirus naturally lives in humans, different monkey species, chimpanzees, gorillas,
baboons, and duikers. Serological evidence of ebolavirus immunity markers in serum taken from
domesticated dogs suggests that asymptomatic infection is likely to occur after exposure to
infected humans or animal carrion. The possibility that these animals could be intermediate hosts
has been raised by the discovery of the Ebolavirus genome in two species of rodents and one
species of shrew that reside in forest border areas.
- The natural reservoir of ebolaviruses is unknown, but specific species of bat are considered a
possible natural reservoir based on the presence of serum antibodies and viral RNA.
5. Infectious Dose of the virus
- Viral hemorrhagic fevers have an experimentally determined infectious dose of 1 to 10 organisms
by aerosol in non-human primates, despite the fact that aerosol transmission of ebolaviruses is
not thought to be a primary mode of infection. Although the precise infectious dose of
ebolaviruses is unknown, rhesus monkeys exposed via aerosol in a controlled environment
develop clinical illness after inhaling doses of 2.6 log10 PFUs of ebolavirus particles with
diameters ranging from 0.8 to 1.2 m.
6. Mode of Transmission, Incubation Period, and Communicability
- Mode of Transmission: The virus spreads through direct contact (such as through broken skin or
mucous membranes in the eyes, nose, or mouth) with: Blood or body fluids, Objects (such as
clothes, bedding, needles, and medical equipment), Infected fruit bats or nonhuman primates
and Semen from a man who recovered from EVD.
- Incubation Period: Range of 2-21 days, but normally 4-10 days.
- Communicability: Contagious when blood, bodily fluids, or organs containing the infection are
touched. It is believed that transmission through semen is possible because ebolaviruses have
been found in semen 61 to 82 days after the illness started.
7. Susceptibility:
a. Drug Susceptibility
- Only approved treatments or vaccines for the prevention or post-exposure prophylaxis of the Ebola
virus are offered in Canada. The main preventive measure is the ERVEBO (rVSV-ZEBOV) vaccine,

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Gov. D. Mangubat Ave., Brgy. Burol Main, City of Dasmariñas, Cavite 4114, Philippines
Tel. Nos. (046) 416-4339/41 www.eac.edu.ph

SCHOOL OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

and the post-exposure measures consist of the monoclonal antibody (mAb)-based therapies
ansuvimab (Ebanga) and atoltivimab+maftivimab+odesivimab. (Inmazeb).
b. Disinfectant Susceptibility
- The ebola virus is sensitive to 3% acetic acid, 1% glutaraldehyde, alcohol-based products, calcium
hypochlorite (bleach powder), and 5.25% home bleach diluted (i.e., 0.525% to 0.0525% sodium
hypochlorite for 10 min.). The WHO advises flooding the area with 5.25% household bleach diluted
to a 1:10 solution to clean up spills of blood or bodily fluids. Careful washing is advised to get rid of
any apparent stains before contacting a 1:100 dilution of 5.25% home bleach for more than 10
minutes on surfaces that could corrode or discolor.
c. Physical Inactivation methods
- Ebolaviruses are fairly thermolabile and can be rendered inactive by boiling for 5 minutes, heating
for 30 to 60 minutes at 60°C, or using gamma radiation (1.2 to 1.27 x 106 rads) in combination with
1% glutaraldehyde. Ebola virus Makona strain virions in spike serum samples can be inactivated
after incubation for 1 hour with 0.5% Tween-20 at 56°C, which is thought to be a more practical
application in the field. Ebola virus has also been found to be somewhat sensitive to UVC radiation.
A 15 minute 100% methanol fixation step can inactivate a high viral load in whole-blood thin-smear
samples.
d. Survival outside host
- According to reports, filoviruses can endure weeks in the blood and can endure on contaminated
surfaces, especially at low temperatures (4°C). Ebolavirus can survive in dried human or non-
human primate blood for seven to ten days under 28°C and 90 percent relative humidity
conditions in West Africa.
8. Immunization (Available or not?)
- In Canada, the ERVEBO (rVSV-ZEBOV) vaccine has been approved for the Ebola virus. Other
potential vaccine candidates moving towards clinical trials include human adenovirus serotype 26
or 35 platforms with a Modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) boost.
- Post-exposure measures are currently available for Ebola virus in the form of monoclonal
antibody (mAb)-based therapeutics: ansuvimab (Ebanga) and
atoltivimab+maftivimab+odesivimab (Inmazeb)
9. Protection against the virus
- The applicable Containment Level 4 requirements for personal protective equipment and clothing
outlined in the CBS to be followed.
- The use of a positive-pressure suit or use of a Class III biological safety cabinet (BSC) line is
required for all work with RG4 pathogens.
- A certified biological safety cabinet (BSC) or another suitable primary containment device must
be used for all tasks involving open vessels of infectious material. Infected materials must be
centrifuged in closed containers set inside sealed safety cups or in unloaded rotors inside a
biological safety cabinet. Leaks must be routinely inspected in positive pressure suits to ensure
their integrity. There should be a strict restriction on the use of needles, syringes, and other sharp
objects. Additional safety measures should be taken when working with animals or undertaking
large-scale endeavors. Open wounds, cuts, scratches, and grazes should be treated with
waterproof dressings.

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Gov. D. Mangubat Ave., Brgy. Burol Main, City of Dasmariñas, Cavite 4114, Philippines
Tel. Nos. (046) 416-4339/41 www.eac.edu.ph

SCHOOL OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

Reference:

Government of Canada (2023), Ebolaviruses: Infectious substances Pathogen Safety Data Sheet, Retrieved
from: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/laboratory-biosafety-
biosecurity/pathogen-safety-data-sheets-risk-assessment/ebolavirus.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2023), Ebola Disease Information for Clinicians in U.S.
Healthcare Settings, Retrieved from:
https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/clinicians/evd/clinicians.html#:~:text=Top%20of%20Page-
,Pathogenesis,cortical%20cells%2C%20and%20epithelial%20cells.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2021), Transmission, Retrieved from:
https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/transmission/index.html

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