Comparative Virology

October 2005
KARAN CHOPRA MOHAN BOLISETTY
 Virus Classification
Group: Group V (-)ssRNA.
Order:Mononegavirales
Family:Filoviridae
Genus:Ebolavirus

• Ebola’s natural reservoir is unknown.

• Non human primates have been the source of
human infections but are not thought to be the
reservoirs.
 History
• Named after the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of
the Congo (formerly Zaire), near the first epidemics.
• Two species were identified in 1976:
– Zaire ebolavirus (ZEBOV) and
– Sudan ebolavirus (SEBOV)
• Case fatality rates of 83% and 54% respectively.
• A third species, Reston ebolavirus (REBOV), was
discovered in November 1989 in a group of monkeys
(Macaca fascicularis) imported from the Philippines.
• Ivory Coast ebolavirus – Only one case. Unlucky scientist.
OUTBREAKS
EBOLA Saga
Saga Continues

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/spb/mnpages/dispages/ebotabl.htm
 Most Recent
• April 25 – June 16 2005 total of 12
cases including 9 deaths were
reported in Etoumbi and Mbomo in
the Cuvette Quest Region.
 Modes of Transmission

There are 3 modes of

infection:

1. Unsterilized needles
2. Suboptimal Hospital
conditions
3. Personal contact

http://www.ecplanet.com/pic/2003/12/1071257871/ebola.jpg
 Symptoms
• Onset of fever.
• Intense weakness.
• Muscle Pain.
• Headache.
• Soar Throat.
• Vommitting, Diarrhoea.
• Impaired Kidnay and liver function.
 Is There a Cure?
• There are no known curative
medications for Ebola.
• However, there have been very
recent developments in preventative
medications.
 Vaccines
• In June, Jones and his colleagues, Dr.
Heinz Feldmann of Winnipeg and Dr.
Thomas Geisbert at Fort Detrick,
Maryland announced that they had
successfully vaccinated monkeys against
the deadly Ebola virus
• The Ebola vaccine is based on the 1976
strain of the Zaire species and protects
from the 1995, but not the other 2 species
that affect humans.
 Bioterrorism

• Airborne transmission of Ebola Zaire

has been demonstrated in monkeys
in a controlled laboratory experiment

• Plum Island…?
 Conclusion
• Even though scientists have recently
made breakthroughs there is still
need for extensive research to find
vaccines and cures for this deadly
virus.
 References
• www.wikipidea.com
• http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/spb/mnpages/dispages/ebotabl.ht
m
• http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en/
• Hampton, Tracy. Vaccines Against Ebola and Marburg Viruses
Show Promise in Primates Studies. Maedical News and
Perspectives. JAMA. Vol. 294 No. 2 July 2005.
• Jones, Steven. Live attenuated recombinant vaccine
protects nonhuman primates against Ebola and Marburg
viruses. Nature Medicine. Vol. 11 No. 7 July 2005.