Detection of Ebola Virus Antibodies in Fecal Samples of Great Apes in Gabon

Overview

Journal Viruses

Publisher MDPI

Specialty Microbiology

Date 2020 Dec 1

PMID 33255243

Citations 6

Authors

Illich M Mombo

Matthieu Fritz

Pierre Becquart

Florian Liegeois

Eric Elguero

Larson Boundenga

Telstar N Mebaley

Franck Prugnolle

Gael D Maganga

Eric M Leroy

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Based on a large study conducted on wild great ape fecal samples collected in regions of Gabon where previous human outbreaks of Ebola virus disease have occurred between 1994 and 2002, we provide evidence for prevalence of (EBOV)-specific antibodies of 3.9% (immunoglobulin G (IgG)) and 3.5% (immunoglobulin M (IgM)) in chimpanzees and 8.8% (IgG) and 2.4% (IgM) in gorillas. Importantly, we observed a high local prevalence (31.2%) of anti-EBOV IgG antibodies in gorilla samples. This high local rate of positivity among wild great apes raises the question of a spatially and temporally localized increase in EBOV exposure risk and the role that can be played by these animals as sentinels of the virus's spread or reemergence in a given area.

Citing Articles

Ebola and Marburg viruses IgG detections in small ruminants and dogs from villages within outbreak areas in Gabon.

Ndong Mebaley T, Becquart P, Fritz M, Elguero E, Mombo I, Garcia D PLoS One. 2025; 20(3):e0314801.

PMID: 40043032 PMC: 11882094. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0314801.

A review of Gabonese gorillas and their pathogens: Diversity, transfer and One Health approach to avoid future outbreaks?.

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