Ebola Virus Disease – An Emergent Public Health Threat of th the Late 20 Century

Ebola virus disease is one of the new emerged infectious diseases of the late 20 century. It is a severe, often fatal illness in humans marked by severe bleeding (haemorrhage), organ failure and with fatality rates of between 50% and 90%. Ebola virus is native to Africa and is previously characterized by outbreaks in isolated and remote communities in the rainforest. The 2014 Ebola outbreak is reported in four West African countries namely, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria. Ebola virus disease (EVD) is caused by members of the genus Ebolavirus with five (5) recognized species namely Zaire Ebolavirus, Sudan Ebolavirus, Ivory Coast Ebolavirus, Reston Ebolavirus, and Bundibugyo Ebolavirus, all of which belongs to the family, Filoviridae. The transmission of Ebola virus involve two major steps; firstly from suspected natural hosts or reservoir believed to be fruit bats to animals in the wild and secondly, from animals in the wild to humans. Human-to-human transmission occurs through direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids (vomit, faeces, urine, breast milk, semen, and sweat) of infected persons. Although the clinical course of infection with an incubation period of between 2 to 21 days is well known, the specific mechanisms underlying the pathogenicity of Ebola virus have not been clearly understood. Several lines of evidence suggest that the viral glycoprotein (GP) plays a key role in the manifestation of Ebola virus infection. EVD can be diagnosed in the laboratory by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay, antibody-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), antigen detection tests, serum neutralization tests and virus isolation by cell culture. Currently, there are no approved drugs or vaccines to treat or prevent Ebola. Treatment consists of supportive therapy to maintain electrolyte balance. However experimental vaccines and antiviral drugs are undergoing development and clinical trials. The potential treatment of Ebola Haemorrhagic fever patients with passive immune therapy (i.e. blood transfusion) from convalescent patients is being explored. Prevention of EVD consists of avoiding close contact with gravely ill patients, improvement of personal hygiene especially hand hygiene, strict barrier nursing techniques including the use of personal protective equipment and safe burial of the dead.

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Statins Suppress Ebola Virus Infectivity by Interfering with Glycoprotein Processing

mBio ◽

10.1128/mbio.00660-18 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Punya Shrivastava-Ranjan ◽

Mike Flint ◽

Éric Bergeron ◽

Anita K. McElroy ◽

Payel Chatterjee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ebola Virus ◽

Virus Disease ◽

Statin Treatment ◽

Ebola Virus Disease ◽

Health Concern ◽

Virus Infectivity ◽

Viral Glycoprotein ◽

Antiviral Effects ◽

Ebov Infection ◽

Glycoprotein Processing

ABSTRACTEbola virus (EBOV) infection is a major public health concern due to high fatality rates and limited effective treatments. Statins, widely used cholesterol-lowering drugs, have pleiotropic mechanisms of action and were suggested as potential adjunct therapy for Ebola virus disease (EVD) during the 2013–2016 outbreak in West Africa. Here, we evaluated the antiviral effects of statin (lovastatin) on EBOV infectionin vitro. Statin treatment decreased infectious EBOV production in primary human monocyte-derived macrophages and in the hepatic cell line Huh7. Statin treatment did not interfere with viral entry, but the viral particles released from treated cells showed reduced infectivity due to inhibition of viral glycoprotein processing, as evidenced by decreased ratios of the mature glycoprotein form to precursor form. Statin-induced inhibition of infectious virus production and glycoprotein processing was reversed by exogenous mevalonate, the rate-limiting product of the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway, but not by low-density lipoprotein. Finally, statin-treated cells produced EBOV particles devoid of the surface glycoproteins required for virus infectivity. Our findings demonstrate that statin treatment inhibits EBOV infection and suggest that the efficacy of statin treatment should be evaluated in appropriate animal models of EVD.IMPORTANCETreatments targeting Ebola virus disease (EVD) are experimental, expensive, and scarce. Statins are inexpensive generic drugs that have been used for many years for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and have a favorable safety profile. Here, we show the antiviral effects of statins on infectious Ebola virus (EBOV) production. Our study reveals a novel molecular mechanism in which statin regulates EBOV particle infectivity by preventing glycoprotein processing and incorporation into virus particles. Additionally, statins have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. Since inflammation and dysregulation of the immune system are characteristic features of EVD, statins could be explored as part of EVD therapeutics.

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Ebola Virus and its Public Health Significance: A Review

Open Access Journal of Veterinary Science & Research ◽

10.23880/oajvsr-16000165 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 (3) ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Nesradin Y

Keyword(s):

Ebola Virus ◽

Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽

Virus Disease ◽

Rna Virus ◽

Hypovolemic Shock ◽

Specific Treatment ◽

Supportive Therapy ◽

Viral Disease ◽

Ebola Virus Disease ◽

Electrolyte Balance

Ebola virus disease is a severe, often - fatal, zoonotic viral disease in humans and Nonhuman primates (NHP) like monkeys, gorillas and chimpanzees. Ebola is RNA virus that belongs to the family filoviridae, genus Ebola virus. The viruses (EBOV) are enveloped, non - segmented, negative - sense, single - stranded RNA viruses. Ebola virus disease (EVD) was first described in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 1976. The exact origin, locations and natural reservoir of Ebola virus remain unclear. People can be exposed to Ebola virus from direct contact with the blood and/or secretions of an in fected person. Hunting and butchering of wildlife (great apes and fruit bats) has been identified in previous outbreaks as a potential source of infection. The onset of Ebola virus disease is sudden and early symptoms includes; fever and headache, followed by vomiting and diarrhea. Patients in the final stage of disease die in the clinical picture of massive bleeding, severe dehydration, hypovolemic shock and multi - organ failure. Ebola virus infections can be diagnosed by detecting antigens with an antigen capture ELISA and by detecting viral RNA with Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT - PCR). No specific treatment has been demonstrated yet to be safe and effective for Ebola virus. Standard treatment currently consists of supportive therapy, i ncluding maintenance of blood volume and electrolyte balance, as well as standard nursing care. Prevention and control is mainly based on appropriate precautions to break ways of transmission. Despite the fact that no detection of the virus had been discov ered in Ethiopia so far, it is in medium risk country because of most people travelling from West Africa to South Africa travels via these countries. But, there is lack of updated information on Ebola virus and its zoonotic importance. All the necessary pr ecautions should be made to prevent the virus from entering the country and thus Ethiopian Airlines has been informing passengers on ways to reduce risking exposure and preventing the spread of the disease for those traveling to and from affected countries.

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