Ebola: May 19/95 article (summary)

[Ian A. York]

First, anyone interested in learning more about Ebola virus can look at
the list of sites at the end of this post.  Anyone interested in learning
more about virology in general should read Ed Rybicki's on-line tutorial
at http://www.bocklabs.wisc.edu/Tutorial.html    or at
http://www.uct.ac.za/microbiology/virtut1.html

There is more virology information and links at
http://www.uct.ac.za/microbiology/
--------------
There have been several references to the article in Science May 19/95 on
the Ebola virus strain found in chimpanzees in the Ivory Coast.  This is
the strain I recently referred to in the Lancet article.  Here is a
summary of some of the points the article raises.  I suggest that before
you reply to my summary, you check out the actual article for more
information and details, and in case I inadvertently distort the meaning. 

Chimpanzee Outbreak Heats Up Search for Ebola Origin.
Science 268:974-975 (1995)
Virginia Morell

-this is clearly a new strain.  Although again the genome sequence is not 
given, it is noted that "Comparing the new strains RNA sequence with 
those from earlier outbreaks reveals wide diversity ... not surprising, 
... because Ebola, like other RNA viruses, has an error-prone replication 
process, which would boost the number of mutations and this the emergence 
of new strains."

-"... the virus is difficult for humans to contract.  Only one of the 
three autopsy participants became ill.  And while is unclear how she 
became infected, Le Guenno suspects that somehow ... she came in direct 
contact with ... blood or tissue."  

-speculation as to the natural reserve of the virus.  Several 
possibilities are discussed.  Clearly the researchers have and are 
considering the possibility of monkeys as a source.  The chimpanzees 
affected were being closely observed, and the researchers involved are 
"reviewing the field records from the weeks preceeding the epidemic ... 
'to figure out what other animals they came in contact with'".  They note 
that this group of chimpanzees in particular were noted for being 
hunters, and are reviewing that information as well.  The group will also 
be "testing a wide range of the Tai Forest mammals for antibodies to the 
virus and for the virus itself."  

	The group suggests that the transmission may be from blood-sucking
arthopds via an intermediate mammal host, although they are obviously not
wedded to the idea.  Their reasoning seems to be that the outbreak
occured at the end of the rainy season.  (Also, at the same season a few
years ago, an outbreak in the chimpanzee group, killing 8 animals.  Blood 
and tissue were not collected, so the cause remains unknown.  Symptoms 
were similar to the present Ebola outbreak.)  "And that ... implicates an 
insect or other arthopod that breeds in standing water.  ... 'It may be 
that the virus's host is a seasonally abundant species.'"  They are 
working on trapping and testing a variety of blood sucking insects to 
check.  

	As for intermediate mammalian hosts, that "might be an 
unidentified species of rodent, whose population has boomed since 1990, 
when Liberian reugees began streaming into camps near the park."  

	They are also investigating local people for any signs of Ebola 
past or present; particularly (it looks like) people who are involved 
with monkeys (eg poachers, hunters).  

----------------------
Here is a list of Ebola net resources.  Thanks to Robert Hessler, MD,
FACEP, from whom I stole this
information.

http://www.bocklabs.wisc.edu/outbreak.html
    Most current info including WHO releases and Reuters News articles

http://www.who.ch/
http://www.who.ch/programmes/cds/ebola.html
    World Health Organization's Ebola info page

http://www.nando.net/newsroom/nt/world.html
    Click on their Ebola link to get other links and information

http://www.cdc.gov/
    The Centers for Disease Control home page
    (select "What's New" from menu)

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/ncid.htm
    The Nation Center for Infectious Diseases

http://www.apocalypse.org/pub/u/davido/ebola.html
http://ichiban.objarts.com/ebola/ebola.html
httP://outcast.gene.com/ae/WN/SU/ebola_infection.htm
    Several attempts to create a master page for links to the Ebola outbreak

http://outcast.gene.com/ae/WN/NM/interview_murphy.html
    Interview with Dr. Frederick Murphy, one of the first Ebola
    researchers. Includes some electron-microsope views of the beastie
    and a bibliography.

http://www.bocklabs.wisc.edu/ebola.html
    Another reading list

http://www.bocklabs.wisc.edu/outbreak.html
    Info on, what else, the Ebola outbreak

http://www.uct.ac.za/microbiology/ebola.html
    EMERGING AND RE-EMERGING VIRUSES: AN ESSAY
    By Alison Jacobson
    Department of Microbiology
    University of Cape Town
    Essay on all the new bugs that are going to kill us

http://www.uct.ac.za/microbiology/ebopage.html
    Links to other info, and general Ebola information

gopher://gopher.stolaf.edu:70/00/Internet%20Resources/
US-State-Department-Travel-Advisories/Current-Advisories/zaire
    Latest State Dept. advisory on Zaire; basically says: RUN AWAY!

gopher://gopher.bio.net/
    Searchable archives of a variety of biology-related mailing lists,
    some of which have Ebola discussions.

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/Libs/PCL/Map_collection/africa/Zaire.GIF
    Map of Zaire, shows location of Kikwit (map's about 256K in size)
-- 
Ian York   (york at mbcrr.harvard.edu)
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney St., Boston MA 02115
Phone (617)-632-3921     Fax  (617)-632-2627