Is Marburg virus enzootic in Gabon?

J Infect Dis. 2011 Nov:204 Suppl 3:S800-3. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jir358.

Abstract

Marburg virus (MARV) nucleic acid was detected in Rousettus aegyptiacus bats in 2005 and 2006 in the midwest and southeast of Gabon. In this study we used MARV-specific real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and MARV-specific nested RT-PCR assay to screen 1257 bats caught during July 2009, December 2009, and June 2010 in 3 caves situated in northern Gabon. Nine specimens tested positive by the real-time assay, with cycle threshold values ranging from 35 to 39, of which only 1 R. aegyptiacus specimen collected in 2009 was positive in the nested VP35 RT-PCR assay. Together with MARV-positive bats in the south and west found in 2005 and 2006, confirmation of phylogenetically closely related MARV-positive bats 5 years later and in northern Gabon suggests that MARV is now enzootic in Gabon and emphasizes the importance of long-term monitoring of bat populations and human-bat interfaces.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chiroptera / virology*
  • Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
  • Gabon / epidemiology
  • Marburg Virus Disease / epidemiology*
  • Marburg Virus Disease / virology
  • Marburgvirus / genetics
  • Marburgvirus / isolation & purification*
  • Phylogeny
  • RNA, Viral / isolation & purification
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
  • Sequence Alignment / veterinary

Substances

  • RNA, Viral