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What happens if there are co-infections of ebola and Marburg?
- Thread starter JimO
- Start date
AlaskaDenise
In Memoriam
Re: What happens if there are co-infections of ebola and Marburg?
Many of the bat studies discovered co-infections of Marburg & Ebola. But they didn't mention (not known if they tested) any gene swapping (that I can remember).
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Many of the bat studies discovered co-infections of Marburg & Ebola. But they didn't mention (not known if they tested) any gene swapping (that I can remember).
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Re: What happens if there are co-infections of ebola and Marburg?
I am not a virologist but unlikely.
The are enormous genetic differences even amongst Ebola species and even greater differences with Marburg which is not only not the same species but not even the same genus.
In flu you have a reassortment mechanism which allows whole RNA strands to be shuffled between stands in co-infections but Ebola is single stranded so lacks this mechanism. All the flu pandemics, we have data for, had a recombination event in their genome shortly before going epidemic.
I am not a virologist but unlikely.
The are enormous genetic differences even amongst Ebola species and even greater differences with Marburg which is not only not the same species but not even the same genus.
In flu you have a reassortment mechanism which allows whole RNA strands to be shuffled between stands in co-infections but Ebola is single stranded so lacks this mechanism. All the flu pandemics, we have data for, had a recombination event in their genome shortly before going epidemic.
Nika
Well-known member
Re: What happens if there are co-infections of ebola and Marburg?
This is a nice paper of a 2012 phylogenetic analysis on filoviruses.
It notes "Two Marburg isolates (termed the “RAVN” strain) represent a quite-distinct lineage that should be considered in studies of biogeography and host associations, and may merit recognition at the level of species."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3433987/
This is a nice paper of a 2012 phylogenetic analysis on filoviruses.
It notes "Two Marburg isolates (termed the “RAVN” strain) represent a quite-distinct lineage that should be considered in studies of biogeography and host associations, and may merit recognition at the level of species."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3433987/
JimO
Well-known member
Re: What happens if there are co-infections of ebola and Marburg?
Very helpful. Thanks.
What could become problematic is if both are circulating in the same population. It would be extremely difficult to segregate the patients for testing to keep them from infecting one another since the symptoms are indistinguishable.
Very helpful. Thanks.
What could become problematic is if both are circulating in the same population. It would be extremely difficult to segregate the patients for testing to keep them from infecting one another since the symptoms are indistinguishable.
Re: What happens if there are co-infections of ebola and Marburg?
Jim they are more concerned about Lassa fever as we are coming into the season. They have a very similar symptom set but Lassa is treatable and has a much lower CFR. There is a real danger that the Lassa patients will be grouped with EVD patients as they would be classed as 'probable' on examination and testing capacity has yet to catch up with case numbers.
Jim they are more concerned about Lassa fever as we are coming into the season. They have a very similar symptom set but Lassa is treatable and has a much lower CFR. There is a real danger that the Lassa patients will be grouped with EVD patients as they would be classed as 'probable' on examination and testing capacity has yet to catch up with case numbers.
Nika
Well-known member
Re: What happens if there are co-infections of ebola and Marburg?
Lassa fever (viral hemorraghic fever)
After an incubation period of six to twenty-one days, an acute illness with multiorgan involvement develops. Non-specific symptoms include fever, facial swelling, and muscle fatigue, as well as conjunctivitis and mucosal bleeding. The other symptoms arising from the affected organs are:
Gastrointestinal tract
Nausea
Vomiting (bloody)
Diarrhea (bloody)
Stomach ache
Constipation
Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
Hepatitis
Cardiovascular system
Pericarditis
Hypertension
Hypotension
Tachycardia (abnormally high heart rate)
Respiratory tract
Cough
Chest pain
Dyspnoea
Pharyngitis
Pleuritis
Nervous system
Encephalitis
Meningitis
Unilateral or bilateral hearing deficit
Seizures
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lassa_fever
Lassa fever (viral hemorraghic fever)
After an incubation period of six to twenty-one days, an acute illness with multiorgan involvement develops. Non-specific symptoms include fever, facial swelling, and muscle fatigue, as well as conjunctivitis and mucosal bleeding. The other symptoms arising from the affected organs are:
Gastrointestinal tract
Nausea
Vomiting (bloody)
Diarrhea (bloody)
Stomach ache
Constipation
Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
Hepatitis
Cardiovascular system
Pericarditis
Hypertension
Hypotension
Tachycardia (abnormally high heart rate)
Respiratory tract
Cough
Chest pain
Dyspnoea
Pharyngitis
Pleuritis
Nervous system
Encephalitis
Meningitis
Unilateral or bilateral hearing deficit
Seizures
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lassa_fever
Re: What happens if there are co-infections of ebola and Marburg?
For example this one: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2334/9/159
For example this one: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2334/9/159
Nika
Well-known member
Re: What happens if there are co-infections of ebola and Marburg?
If they did a lot of transfection across one another in the bat then marburg and ebola variants would not be so distinguishable (as seen in phylogenetic analysis). If they did there would be reports of hybrids - not sure we have seen this.
If they did a lot of transfection across one another in the bat then marburg and ebola variants would not be so distinguishable (as seen in phylogenetic analysis). If they did there would be reports of hybrids - not sure we have seen this.
AlaskaDenise
In Memoriam
Re: What happens if there are co-infections of ebola and Marburg?
That 2009 study matches data in newer ones, ie., co-infected bats have more EBOV than MBOV. As part of the statement in the conclusion about caves being dangerous for people, I wish they would have included the number of mines in bat-infested caves. As long as there is resource extraction endangering its workers, this ebola cycle will continue! Hopefully a vaccine will be available someday for the workers.
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That 2009 study matches data in newer ones, ie., co-infected bats have more EBOV than MBOV. As part of the statement in the conclusion about caves being dangerous for people, I wish they would have included the number of mines in bat-infested caves. As long as there is resource extraction endangering its workers, this ebola cycle will continue! Hopefully a vaccine will be available someday for the workers.
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