Nk. Jaax et al., LETHAL EXPERIMENTAL-INFECTION OF RHESUS-MONKEYS WITH EBOLA-ZAIRE (MAYINGA) VIRUS BY THE ORAL AND CONJUNCTIVAL ROUTE OF EXPOSURE, Archives of pathology and laboratory medicine, 120(2), 1996, pp. 140-155
Citations number
38
Categorie Soggetti
Pathology,"Medical Laboratory Technology","Medicine, Research & Experimental
Objective.-The source of infection or mode of transmission of Ebola vi
rus to human index cases of Ebola fever has not been established. Fiel
d observations in outbreaks of Ebola fever indicate that secondary tra
nsmission of Ebola virus is linked to improper needle hygiene, direct
contact with infected tissue or fluid samples, and close contact with
infected patients. While it is presumed that the virus infects through
either breaks in the skin or contact with mucous membranes, the only
two routes of exposure that have been experimentally validated are par
enteral inoculation and aerosol inhalation. Epidemiologic evidence sug
gests that aerosol exposure is not an important means of virus transmi
ssion in natural outbreaks of human Ebola fever; this study was design
ed to verify that Ebola virus could be effectively transmitted by oral
or conjunctival exposure in nonhuman primates. Materials and Methods.
-Adult rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were exposed to Ebola-Zaire (Ma
yinga) virus orally (N = 4), conjunctivally (N = 4), or by intramuscul
ar Inoculation (N = 1, virus-positive control). Results.-Four of four
monkeys exposed by the conjunctival route, three of four monkeys expos
ed by the oral route, and the intramuscularly inoculated positive cont
rol monkey (one of one) were successfully infected with Elbola-Zaire (
Mayinga). Seven monkeys died of Ebola fever between days 7 and 8 poste
xposure. One monkey was given aggressive supportive therapy and a plat
elet transfusion; it lived until day 12 postexposure. Conclusions.-Fin
dings in this study experimentally confirm that Ebola virus can be eff
ectively transmitted via the oral or conjunctival route of exposure in
nonhuman primates.