Liberia: Antibodies to Ebola Highly Prevalent in 1986 - Study

[Gert van der Hoek]

Trop Geogr Med. 1986 Sep;38(3):209-14.

Hemorrhagic fever virus infections in an isolated rainforest area of central Liberia. Limitations of the indirect immunofluorescence slide test for antibody screening in Africa.

Van der Waals FW, Pomeroy KL, Goudsmit J, Asher DM, Gajdusek DC.

Abstract

Serum samples from 119 healthy individuals and 106 epilepsy patients inhabiting Grand Bassa County, Liberia, were tested for antibodies to hemorrhagic fever viruses (HFV) by indirect immunofluorescence. E6 Vero cells infected with Lassa fever virus (LAS), Rift Valley Fever virus (RVF), Congo Hemorrhagic Fever virus (CON), Marburg virus (MBG) and the Ebola (EBO) virus strains Mayinga (May) and Boniface (Bon) were used as antigen.

To obtain reproducible and specific test results sera had to be absorbed extensively with uninfected E6 Vero cells, tested for reactivity to both virus infected and uninfected E6 Vero cells and read "blindly" by two independent observers.

Antibodies to EBO were shown to be highly prevalent (13.4&#37 in the population of this rainforest area, while prevalences of antibodies to LAS (1.3%), RVF (0.4%) and MBG (1.3%) were much lower. No correlation between past HFV infection and post-encephalitic epilepsy or other reported febrile illnesses could be established.

PubMed

thanks to @PathogenPhD and @AudiByrne

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Liberia: Antibodies to Ebola Highly Prevalent in 1986 - Study

Nigeria: Viral hemorrhagic fever antibodies in Nigerian populations. - 1988

Madagascar : Antibodies to haemorrhagic fever viruses in Madagascar populations. 1989

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Liberia: Antibodies to Ebola Highly Prevalent in 1986 - Study

Liberia:

1995. Liberia transported [Ebola] to Cote d'Ivoire.

A chief of a troup of 17 warriors, who was fighting in the Liberian civil war, contracted Ebola in Liberia. He came from the town of Plibo, Liberia. He and his troop primarily lived in the bush. Surveillance around his town did not reveal any additional cases. He took refuge from the civil war in Cote d'Ivoire.

On November 15, 1995, he complained of fever, nausea, and diarrhea. He was moved to a cholera camp organized by M?decins sans Fronti?res (MSF) in Cote d'Ivoire. Once in MSF, his symptoms had progressed, and he presented with hematuria (bloody urine). At the end of November, he was suspected of having yellow fever.

On November 29, a blood sample was sent to the Pasteur Institute and was found positive for IgM and IgG against Ebola. The PCR analysis of the viral isolates were negative for Ebola. These lab results are consistent with him being in the convalescent stage of the EHF; the date of specimen collection being 14 days after the first presentation of disease.


Ivory Coast:


The Infected Ethologist

A 34-year-old female Swiss ethologist, one of the three scientists performing the necropsy on the chimpanzee found on November 16, 1994, contracted Ebola, presumably from the necropsy. During the necropsy of the chimpanzee, she wore household latex gloves that were in poor condition. During the necropsy, she noted no wounds or punctures.

Transmission of Ebola to the ethologist probably occurred as a result of contact with the chimpanzee blood either by the projection of droplets onto the face, particularly mucous membranes, or on the hand. She developed a "dengue-like" syndrome on November 24th (eight days after performing the necropsy) that was later diagnosed as EHF. After checking herself into the Abidjan hospital, she was transported to Switzerland for treatment. She received a rigorous treatment of fluid and electrolyte replacement therapy. Despite the lack of strict containment measures, no secondary transimission occurred. The lack of secondary transmission even though strict containment measures were not taken supports the theory that Ebola is not respiratory/aerosol transmitted and transmission requires direct contact with the patient or the patient's bodily secretions/fluids. On day 15 of her hospitalization, she was discharged from the hospital. She did not fully recover until 6 weeks after her infection.

Ebola virus outbreaks in the Ivory Coast and Liberia, 1994-1995.


source: Ebola Cote D'Ivoire Outbreaks