Ebola Virus

Scientific Name:
Ebola Virus
Filoviridae family
4 strains Ebola-Zaire, Ebola-
Sudan, Ebola-Cote dIvoire,
Ebola-Reston
Common name: Ebola

Causes Ebola hemorrhagic fever
Description
RNA strand virus
Coiled RNA in spike-covered envelope
from host cell
Long rods (800-1000 nm)
Replication = 8 hours
Therefore, spreads rapidly
Natural Habitat = Africa
Zaire (Democratic
Republic of the Congo)
Ebola-Zaire
Sudan
Ebola-Sudan
Gabon
Ivory Coast
Ebola-Cote dIvoire
Uganda
Republic of the Congo
(not the DRC)
Ivory Coast
Gabon
Congo
DRC
Uganda
Sudan
Natural Reservoir
Suspected to be a zoonotic (animal-
borne)
However, it is unknown what
organism carries it naturally
without being infected

Suspected vectors
Bats
Primates (in some cases, have
been confirmed)
Basically any other animal native
to Africa, including mosquitoes,
ticks, birds, reptiles
No benefits
Uses: Possible terror weapon
(no uses)

Never normal flora in humans
(it really sucks)
Ebola hemorrhagic fever
Transmission
Ebola-Reston has shown to be airborne
The other three strains are transmitted by contact of any kind (fluids
or skin)

Target Groups
Anyone who comes in contact with an infected animal or person is at
high risk of contacting the disease.
However, some people seem to have natural defenses in their
immune system that allow their bodies to kill the virus. Scientists do
not know exactly how this occurs.
Target Organs and Damage Methods
Target mainly small capillary vessels. Attach to walls, cause
leakage of blood and serum into surrounding tissue.

When white blood cells attack the virus, they dissolve this releases
a chemical into the blood stream that signals the release of other
chemicals (pro-inflammatory cytokines, pro-coagulants, and
anticoagulants)

These injure blood vessels even worse, resulting in permanent
bleeding.

Eventually, the entire body is leaking and dissolving

Symptoms:
Severe headache
Weakness
Muscle aches

As it progresses:
Severe vomiting
Abdominal pain
Diarrhea
Pharyngitis
Conjunctivitis
External bleeding
Extremely high body temperature
Prostration

Incubation Period: Anywhere from 2-21 days
Fatality Rates:
Ebola-Sudan 60%
Ebola-Zaire 77-88%
Ebola-Reston Found in
monkeys, has not shown to be
fatal in humans
Ebola-Cote DIvoire Only one
human case recorded, patient
survived

Not much is known about the
bodys response because of
the dangers of handling
samples from infected patients
and the short time span
available for investigation.

MASS GRAVES FOR
EBOLA VICTIMS
Diagnosis and Identification
Clinical Diagnosis:
-Difficult because early symptoms (red eye, skin rash) are
nonspecific to virus.
-Takes a combination of many symptoms characteristic of
Ebola.

Laboratory Testing/Diagnosis:
-Antigen-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
-IgM ELISA test
-Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) a DNA test to match the
DNA from the sample to known Ebola DNA
-All done within a few days of onset of symptoms
Diagnosis Continued
Advanced Stage Testing:
-Test for IgM and IgG anitbodies

Retrospective Testing:
-Immunohistochemistry testing
-Virus isolation
-PCR
(Occur after death)

Culture
Only grows in cells
THERE IS NO CURE FOR EBOLA HF

Care of Infected Persons:
-Supportive therapy -Maintain oxygen status, BP
-Balance fluids and electrolytes -Treatment of complicating infections

Experimental Treatment:
-In the Kikwit outbreak in DRC, doctors transmitted blood from survivors to
sufferers, hoping to transmit whatever antibodies helped them survive.

It is unknown whether or not survivors gain immunity from infection. Doctors
believe it is possible, but because of the limited ability to test this theory, it
remains to be seen.

Prevention

Classified as Biosafety level 4
(greatest threat to humans)

Extensive precautions taken when
dealing with suspected cases to
limit transmission
Several layers of protective
clothing covering entire body (up
to four)
Complete equipment sterilization
Quarantine of Ebola HF patients
Future outlook

A study released in December of 2003 showed that researchers
studying infected monkeys have found a way to increase survival
rates
100% of infected monkeys had been dying
These were injected with rNAPc2, a factor known to inhibit blood
coagulation, a characteristic of Ebola HF
33% of these monkeys survived and regained health. All untreated
monkeys died.
rNAPc2 is known to be relatively safe in humans this method is being
studied further
Sources
Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever. Special Pathogens Branch:
Diseases. Nov. 26, 2003. Center for Disease Control
and Prevention. 3/19/04
<http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/spb/mnpages/dispages
/ebola.htm>

Murphy, Frederick A. Ebola Virus. Encarta. CD-ROM.
Microsoft, 2002

Russell, Brett. Ebola Information. 3/19/04
<http://www.brettrussell.com/personal/ebola.html>

Col. Weeks, Byron, M.D. Ebola A Serious Threat.
NewsMax.com. Oct. 17, 2001. 3/19/04
<http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2001/10/12/
82239.shtml>

Ebola Virus

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