More Challenges From Ebola: Infection of the Central Nervous System
Cases of relapsed Ebola virus disease involving symptoms in the central nervous system are reminiscent of our past observations with some nonhuman primates (NHPs) that survived acute Ebola virus infection. We document our findings in detail here and suggest that this phenomenon can be further investigated in NHPs. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases)
Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases - October 4, 2016 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Wong, G., Qiu, X., Bi, Y., Formenty, P., Sprecher, A., Jacobs, M., Gao, G. F., Kobinger, G. Tags: PATHOGENESIS Source Type: research
Comparison of the Aerosol Stability of 2 Strains of Zaire ebolavirus From the 1976 and 2013 Outbreaks
This study investigates the viability of 2 Zaire ebolavirus strains within aerosols at 22°C and 80% relative humidity over time. The results presented here indicate that there is no difference in virus stability between the 2 strains and that viable virus can be recovered from an aerosol 180 minutes after it is generated. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases)
Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases - October 4, 2016 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Fischer, R. J., Bushmaker, T., Judson, S., Munster, V. J. Tags: PATHOGENESIS Source Type: research
Ebola Virus Disease Is Characterized by Poor Activation and Reduced Levels of Circulating CD16+ Monocytes
A number of previous studies have identified antigen-presenting cells (APCs) as key targets of Ebola virus (EBOV), but the role of APCs in human Ebola virus disease (EVD) is not known. We have evaluated the phenotype and kinetics of monocytes, neutrophils, and dendritic cells (DCs) in peripheral blood of patients for whom EVD was diagnosed by the European Mobile Laboratory in Guinea. Acute EVD was characterized by reduced levels of circulating nonclassical CD16+ monocytes with a poor activation profile. In survivors, CD16+ monocytes were activated during recovery, coincident with viral clearance, suggesting an important ro...
Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases - October 4, 2016 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Lüdtke, A., Ruibal, P., Becker-Ziaja, B., Rottstegge, M., Wozniak, D. M., Cabeza-Cabrerizo, M., Thorenz, A., Weller, R., Kerber, R., Idoyaga, J., Magassouba, N., Gabriel, M., Günther, S., Oestereich, L., Munoz-Fontela, C. Tags: PATHOGENESIS Source Type: research
Ebola Virus Makona Shows Reduced Lethality in an Immune-deficient Mouse Model
Ebola virus Makona (EBOV-Makona; from the 2013–2016 West Africa outbreak) shows decreased virulence in an immune-deficient mouse model, compared with a strain from 1976. Unlike other filoviruses tested, EBOV-Makona may be slightly more virulent by the aerosol route than by the injected route, as 2 mice died following aerosol exposure, compared with no mortality among mice that received intraperitoneal injection of equivalent or higher doses. Although most mice did not succumb to infection, the detection of an immunoglobulin G antibody response along with observed clinical signs suggest that the mice were infected but...
Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases - October 4, 2016 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Smither, S. J., Eastaugh, L., Ngugi, S., O'Brien, L., Phelps, A., Steward, J., Lever, M. S. Tags: PATHOGENESIS Source Type: research
Oral and Conjunctival Exposure of Nonhuman Primates to Low Doses of Ebola Makona Virus
Nonhuman primate (NHP) models of Ebola virus (EBOV) infection primarily use parenteral or aerosol routes of exposure. Uniform lethality can be achieved in these models at low doses of EBOV (≤100 plaque-forming units [PFU]). Here, we exposed NHPs to low doses of EBOV (Makona strain) by the oral or conjunctival routes. Surprisingly, animals exposed to 10 PFU by either route showed no signs of disease. Exposure to 100 PFU resulted in illness and/or lethal infection. These results suggest that these more natural routes require higher doses of EBOV to produce disease or that there may be differences between Makona and histor...
Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases - October 4, 2016 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Mire, C. E., Geisbert, J. B., Agans, K. N., Deer, D. J., Fenton, K. A., Geisbert, T. W. Tags: PATHOGENESIS Source Type: research
Evaluation of RealStar Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction Kits for Filovirus Detection in the Laboratory and Field
Conclusions. The Filovirus Screen kit detects all human-pathogenic filoviruses with good analytical sensitivity if performed on an appropriate real-time PCR platform. High analytical sensitivity is important for early diagnosis of EVD. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases)
Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases - October 4, 2016 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Rieger, T., Kerber, R., El Halas, H., Pallasch, E., Duraffour, S., Günther, S., Ölschläger, S. Tags: DIAGNOSIS Source Type: research
Molecular Diagnostic Field Test for Point-of-Care Detection of Ebola Virus Directly From Blood
A molecular diagnostic method for robust detection of Ebola virus (EBOV) at the point of care (POC) directly from blood samples is described. This assay is based on reverse transcriptase loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) of the glycoprotein gene of EBOV. Complete reaction formulations were lyophilized in 0.2-mL polymerase chain reaction tubes. RT-LAMP reactions were performed on a battery-operated isothermal instrument. Limit of detection of this RT-LAMP assay was 2.8 x 102 plaque-forming units (PFU)/test and 1 x 103 PFU/test within 40 minutes for EBOV-Kikwit and EBOV-Makona, respectively. This assay was fou...
Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases - October 4, 2016 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Benzine, J. W., Brown, K. M., Agans, K. N., Godiska, R., Mire, C. E., Gowda, K., Converse, B., Geisbert, T. W., Mead, D. A., Chander, Y. Tags: DIAGNOSIS Source Type: research
Deployment of a Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Test for Ebola Virus Surveillance in Remote Areas in Guinea
To strengthen the laboratory diagnostic capacity for Ebola virus disease (EVD) in the remote areas of Guinea, we deployed a mobile field laboratory and implemented reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) for postmortem testing. We tested 896 oral swab specimens and 21 serum samples, using both RT-LAMP and reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Neither test yielded a positive result, and the results from RT-LAMP and RT-PCR were consistent. More than 95% of the samples were tested within 2 days of sample collection. These results highlight the usefulness of the RT-LAMP ...
Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases - October 4, 2016 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Kurosaki, Y., Magassouba, N., Bah, H. A., Soropogui, B., Dore, A., Kourouma, F., Cherif, M. S., Keita, S., Yasuda, J. Tags: DIAGNOSIS Source Type: research
Lateral Flow Immunoassays for Ebola Virus Disease Detection in Liberia
Conclusions. Rapid antigen-detection tests such as LFIs are attractive alternatives to traditional immunoassays but have reduced sensitivity and specificity, resulting in increases in false-positive and false-negative results. An understanding of the strengths, weaknesses, and limitations of a particular assay lets the diagnostician choose the correct situation to use the correct assay and properly interpret the results. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases)
Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases - October 4, 2016 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Phan, J. C., Pettitt, J., George, J. S., Fakoli, L. S., Taweh, F. M., Bateman, S. L., Bennett, R. S., Norris, S. L., Spinnler, D. A., Pimentel, G., Sahr, P. K., Bolay, F. K., Schoepp, R. J. Tags: DIAGNOSIS Source Type: research
Inactivation of Zaire ebolavirus Variant Makona in Human Serum Samples Analyzed by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Personnel deployed to remote areas during infectious disease outbreaks have limited access to mechanical and chemical inactivation resources. The inactivation of infectious agents present in diagnostic samples is critical to ensure the safety of personnel and the containment of the disease. We evaluated the efficacy of thermal inactivation (exposure to 56°C for 1 hour) and chemical inactivation with 0.5% Tween-20 against a high titer of Ebola virus (species Zaire ebolavirus) variant Makona in spiked human serum samples. No surviving virus was revealed by a 50% tissue culture infective dose assay after the combined trea...
Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases - October 4, 2016 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Cutts, T., Grolla, A., Jones, S., Cook, B. W. M., Qiu, X., Theriault, S. S. Tags: DIAGNOSIS Source Type: research
Development, Evaluation, and Integration of a Quantitative Reverse-Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction Diagnostic Test for Ebola Virus on a Molecular Diagnostics Platform
Conclusions. The Idylla™ prototype Ebola virus test is a fast, safe, easy-to-use, and near-patient test that meets the performance criteria to detect EBOV in patients with suspected Ebola. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases)
Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases - October 4, 2016 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Cnops, L., Van den Eede, P., Pettitt, J., Heyndrickx, L., De Smet, B., Coppens, S., Andries, I., Pattery, T., Van Hove, L., Meersseman, G., Van Den Herrewegen, S., Vergauwe, N., Thijs, R., Jahrling, P. B., Nauwelaers, D., Ariën, K. K. Tags: DIAGNOSIS Source Type: research
Development of an Immunochromatography Assay (QuickNavi-Ebola) to Detect Multiple Species of Ebolaviruses
The latest outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in West Africa has highlighted the urgent need for the development of rapid and reliable diagnostic assays. We used monoclonal antibodies specific to the ebolavirus nucleoprotein to develop an immunochromatography (IC) assay (QuickNavi-Ebola) for rapid diagnosis of EVD. The IC assay was first evaluated with tissue culture supernatants of infected Vero E6 cells and found to be capable of detecting 103–104 focus-forming units/mL of ebolaviruses. Using serum samples from experimentally infected nonhuman primates, we confirmed that the assay could detect the viral antigen ...
Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases - October 4, 2016 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Yoshida, R., Muramatsu, S., Akita, H., Saito, Y., Kuwahara, M., Kato, D., Changula, K., Miyamoto, H., Kajihara, M., Manzoor, R., Furuyama, W., Marzi, A., Feldmann, H., Mweene, A., Masumu, J., Kapeteshi, J., Muyembe-Tamfum, J.-J., Takada, A. Tags: DIAGNOSIS Source Type: research
Ebola Virus Shedding and Transmission: Review of Current Evidence
Background. The magnitude of the 2013–2016 Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa was unprecedented, with >28 500 reported cases and >11 000 deaths. Understanding the key elements of Ebola virus transmission is necessary to implement adequate infection prevention and control measures to protect healthcare workers and halt transmission in the community.
Methods. We performed an extensive PubMed literature review encompassing the period from discovery of Ebola virus, in 1976, until 1 June 2016 to evaluate the evidence on modes of Ebola virus shedding and transmission.
Findings. Ebola virus has...
Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases - October 4, 2016 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Vetter, P., Fischer, W. A., Schibler, M., Jacobs, M., Bausch, D. G., Kaiser, L. Tags: PUBLIC HEALTH Source Type: research
Environmental Contamination and Persistence of Ebola Virus RNA in an Ebola Treatment Center
Conclusions. Personal protective equipment and patient environs do become positive for EBOV RNA, but careful attention to decontamination seems to remove it. EBOV RNA was not detected in general ward spaces. Careful attention to decontamination protocols seems to be important in minimizing the presence of EBOV RNA within ETC wards. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases)
Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases - October 4, 2016 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Poliquin, P. G., Vogt, F., Kasztura, M., Leung, A., Deschambault, Y., Van den Bergh, R., Dorion, C., Maes, P., Kamara, A., Kobinger, G., Sprecher, A., Strong, J. E. Tags: PUBLIC HEALTH Source Type: research
Ebola Virus Stability Under Hospital and Environmental Conditions
The West African outbreak of Ebola virus (EBOV) is largely contained, but sporadic new cases continue to emerge. To assess the potential contribution of fomites to human infections with EBOV, we tested EBOV stability in human blood spotted onto Sierra Leonean banknotes and in syringe needles under hospital and environmental conditions. Under some of these conditions, EBOV remained infectious for >30 days, indicating that EBOV-contaminated items may pose a serious risk to humans. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases)
Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases - October 4, 2016 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Westhoff Smith, D., Hill-Batorski, L., N'jai, A., Eisfeld, A. J., Neumann, G., Halfmann, P., Kawaoka, Y. Tags: PUBLIC HEALTH Source Type: research
