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Ebola Virus
- Family: Filoviridae; ssRNA filamentous virus
- 6 species: Zaire ebolavirus (most deadly, 50-90% mortality); Sudan ebolavirus; Bundibugyo; Tai Forest; Reston (non-pathogenic to humans, infects monkeys); Bombali (recent discovery)
- Reservoir: bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus + others); non-human primates intermediate hosts
- Outbreaks:
- 2014-2016 W Africa epidemic (Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Mali): 28,000+ cases, 11,000+ deaths
- 2018-2020 DRC outbreak (2nd largest, 3500+ cases)
- 2022 Uganda Sudan Ebola outbreak
- 2023-2025 ongoing African outbreaks
- Transmission:
- Direct contact with body fluids (blood, vomit, diarrhea, urine, saliva, semen, sweat)
- Mucous membranes + broken skin
- Contaminated objects
- Sexual transmission (semen carries virus weeks-months post-recovery)
- Vertical
- Healthcare-associated (PPE failures)
- Clinical:
- 8-21 days incubation
- Phase 1: fever + malaise + headache + myalgia
- Phase 2: GI symptoms â severe vomiting + diarrhea + abdominal pain (dehydration risk)
- Phase 3: hemorrhagic manifestations (~ 50%) â bleeding gums + GI + skin + IV sites
- Phase 4: shock + multi-organ failure
- Mortality: 50-90% Zaire; 25-50% Sudan
- Diagnosis:
- RT-PCR of blood (gold standard)
- BSL-4 for handling
- Antigen detection (Ebola NP, GP)
- Treatment:
- Aggressive supportive care (IV fluids, electrolyte replacement, organ support)
- Monoclonal antibodies:
- Inmazeb (atoltivimab-maftivimab-odesivimab, REGN-EB3) â FDA 2020 â cocktail of 3 mAbs
- Ebanga (ansuvimab, mAb114) â FDA 2020 â single mAb
- Remdesivir â used in 2018-2020 outbreak; less effective than mAbs (per PALM trial)
- Convalescent plasma â historical, replaced by mAbs
- Vaccines:
- Ervebo (rVSV-ZEBOV-GP, Merck, FDA 2019) â single dose live recombinant vaccine; ring vaccination strategy revolutionized response
- Zabdeno + Mvabea (Janssen, 2-dose heterologous prime-boost) â preventive
- Survivors: post-Ebola syndrome (uveitis, arthralgia, neurologic; viral persistence in immune-privileged sites â eye, brain, testis; sexual transmission risk)
Marburg Virus
- Filoviridae family
- Similar to Ebola but distinct (Marburgvirus genus)
- Outbreaks:
- 1967 Marburg, Germany (lab outbreak from monkeys)
- 2004-2005 Angola (252 cases, 90% mortality)
- 2017 Uganda
- 2023 Equatorial Guinea + Tanzania
- 2025 Rwanda outbreak ongoing
- Reservoir: bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus)
- Transmission: similar to Ebola (direct contact body fluids)
- Clinical: very similar to Ebola; mortality 23-90% (variable)
- Diagnosis: PCR
- Treatment:
- Supportive
- Marburg-specific mAbs in development (MBP091 etc.)
- Remdesivir investigational
- Vaccine:
- No licensed Marburg vaccine yet
- Candidates in development (cAd3-Marburg, rVSV-MARV)
- 2025 emergency rollout in Rwanda (Phase 2 trials)
1ïžâ£ Ebola Virus
Virology
- ssRNA filamentous, ~ 19 kb
- 7 genes (NP, VP35, VP40, GP, VP30, VP24, L)
- GP (glycoprotein) major antigen + target
- 6 species (different mortality + epidemiology)
Reservoir
- Fruit bats primary natural reservoir (Rousettus aegyptiacus, others)
- Non-human primates (monkeys, gorillas, chimpanzees) intermediate
- Hunting/butchering bushmeat â spillover
Transmission
Direct Body Fluid Contact
- Blood, vomit, diarrhea, urine, saliva, sweat, semen, breast milk
- Mucous membrane + broken skin entry
Sexual Transmission
- Semen carries Ebola for weeks-months post-recovery
- Documented late sexual transmission events
- Survivors counseled
- WHO recommends abstinence or condom use up to 12 months for male survivors
Vertical
- Mother â infant (in utero + breastfeeding)
Healthcare-Associated
- PPE breaches
- 2014-2016 epidemic: ~ 7% healthcare worker (HCW) cases
- 511 HCW deaths in epidemic
Postmortem
- Deceased remain infectious; safe burial practices critical (changed African mourning practices controversially)
Clinical
Phase 1: Febrile (Days 1-5)
- Sudden fever (39-40°C)
- Headache, myalgia, fatigue
- Indistinguishable from many febrile illnesses
Phase 2: GI (Days 5-10)
- Severe vomiting
- Severe diarrhea (often bloody)
- Abdominal pain
- Severe dehydration
- Electrolyte derangement
Phase 3: Hemorrhagic (Days 7-14)
- Bleeding gums, nose, GI, skin (petechiae)
- IV site bleeding
- Conjunctival hemorrhage
- ~ 50% of severe cases
Phase 4: Shock + Multi-Organ Failure
- Hypovolemic + septic shock
- AKI
- ARDS
- DIC
- Encephalopathy
- Death typically days 8-14
Recovery (Survivors)
- 1-2 wk for symptoms to resolve
- Post-Ebola syndrome:
- Uveitis (eye sequelae)
- Arthralgia, myalgia
- Headache, neurologic
- Hearing loss
- Sexual dysfunction
- Hair loss
- Persistent inflammation
Diagnosis
RT-PCR
- Gold standard for confirmation
- BSL-4 lab required
- Multiple specimens: blood, saliva, semen, breast milk
- Quantitative PCR for monitoring
Antigen Tests
- Rapid tests (POC) for outbreak surveillance
- Less sensitive than PCR
- Lateral flow GP antigen
- ReEBOV (Corgenix)
Serology
- IgM + IgG (mostly for retrospective)
- Cross-reactivity within Filovirus family
Treatment
Supportive Care (Foundation)
- Aggressive IV fluid + electrolyte replacement
- Antiemetics
- Antimotility (cautious)
- Analgesia
- Hemodialysis if AKI
- Mechanical ventilation if respiratory failure
- Coagulation product replacement
- Blood transfusion
- ICU for severe
Monoclonal Antibodies (Game Changer)
Inmazeb (REGN-EB3, FDA 2020)
- Cocktail of 3 mAbs: atoltivimab + maftivimab + odesivimab
- IV single infusion
- PALM trial 2019: significantly reduced mortality (35.1% mAb vs 51% ZMapp)
- Stockpile for outbreak response
Ebanga (mAb114 / Ansuvimab, FDA 2020)
- Single mAb derived from 1995 Kikwit survivor
- IV single infusion
- PALM trial: similar efficacy to REGN-EB3 (33.5% mortality)
Remdesivir
- Used in 2018-2020 DRC outbreak
- PALM trial: less effective than mAbs (53% mortality)
- Now adjunct, not first-line
Convalescent Plasma
- Historical use
- Replaced by purified mAbs
- Some Ebola-specific Ig preparations under development
Vaccines
Ervebo (rVSV-ZEBOV-GP, Merck, FDA 2019)
- Single dose live recombinant vaccine
- VSV (vesicular stomatitis virus) backbone expressing Ebola GP
- Ring vaccination strategy revolutionized outbreak response
- 100% efficacy in Guinea ring vaccination trial 2015-2016
- Approved for Zaire ebolavirus only (not Sudan or others)
- 2018-2020 DRC outbreak: > 300,000 vaccinated
- WHO stockpile for emergency deployment
Zabdeno + Mvabea (Janssen, 2-dose)
- Heterologous prime-boost
- Zabdeno (Ad26.ZEBOV) prime + Mvabea (MVA-BN-Filo) boost
- 2-dose schedule 8 weeks apart
- Preventive (longer-term)
- Approved EMA 2020
Future Vaccines
- Pan-filovirus vaccines (Ebola + Marburg combination)
- Sudan-specific vaccines
- mRNA candidates
Prevention + Infection Control
- PPE (gown, gloves, mask, eye protection, boots)
- Strict + monitored donning + doffing
- Patient isolation in designated treatment units
- Safe burial practices
- Contact tracing + monitoring
- Ring vaccination of contacts + contacts of contacts
- HCW vaccination
- Border + travel surveillance
Outbreak Response
- WHO emergency response
- Mobile labs (BSL-4)
- Treatment centers
- Community engagement (critical)
- Ring vaccination
- Safe burial teams
2ïžâ£ Marburg Virus
Background
- 1967 Marburg, Germany â first identified (lab workers handling green monkeys from Uganda)
- Distinct genus (Marburgvirus) within Filoviridae
- Single species (Marburg marburgvirus)
- 2 main lineages: Marburg + Ravn
Reservoir
- Rousettus aegyptiacus (Egyptian fruit bat)
- Cave-dwelling
- Aerosolized bat urine + feces in caves
- Mining/exploration outbreaks
Outbreaks
- 1967 Germany (32 cases, 7 deaths) â index lab outbreak
- 2004-2005 Angola (252 cases, 90% mortality)
- 2007 Uganda
- 2012 Uganda
- 2014 Uganda
- 2017 Uganda (3 cases)
- 2021 Guinea (1 case)
- 2023 Equatorial Guinea + Tanzania
- 2024 Rwanda ongoing (largest)
- 2024-2025 ongoing concerns
Transmission
- Same as Ebola: direct body fluid contact
- Sexual transmission documented
- Healthcare-associated
Clinical
- Very similar to Ebola
- 5-10 d incubation
- Phases: febrile â GI â hemorrhagic â shock/MOF
- Mortality 23-90% (varied; 2024 Rwanda outbreak ~ 30%)
Treatment
- Supportive care (foundation)
- Marburg-specific mAbs in development:
- MBP091 (Mapp Biopharmaceutical) â Phase 2/3
- Other candidates
- Remdesivir investigational
Vaccine
- No licensed Marburg vaccine yet
- 2025 emergency rollout in Rwanda outbreak: cAd3-Marburg (Sabin) + rVSV-MARV (Public Health Vaccines + IAVI)
- Phase 2 trials in outbreak setting
- Stockpiling + accelerated development priority
Outbreak Response
- Same as Ebola: PPE + isolation + contact tracing + safe burial + community engagement
- Mobile BSL-4 labs
- Vaccine deployment in emergency
3ïžâ£ Filovirus Outbreak Considerations
When to Suspect
- Returning traveler from endemic country
- Fever within 21 days
- Compatible clinical features
- Healthcare workers, family contacts
Isolation + Testing
- Strict isolation immediately
- BSL-4 lab for testing
- CDC + WHO notification
- Standard hospital usually cannot test on-site
Differentiation
- Filovirus PCR panel
- Differentiate from malaria, severe leptospirosis, typhoid, hemorrhagic fever viruses (Lassa, others)
- Other tropical infections