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Cited by 30Viral Infections and Outbreaks ResearchViral Infections and VectorsVirology and Viral Diseases

Risk Factors Associated with Ebola and Marburg Viruses Seroprevalence in Blood Donors in the Republic of Congo

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Moyen, Nanikaly, Thirion, Laurence, Emmerich, Petra, Dzia-Lepfoundzou, Amelia, Richet, Hervé, Boehmann, Yannik, Dimi, Yannick, Gallian, Pierre +3 more·2015·PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
DOI 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003833PMC PMC4457487
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Ebola and Marburg viruses (family Filoviridae, genera Ebolavirus and Marburgvirus) cause haemorrhagic fevers in humans, often associated with high mortality rates. The presence of antibodies to Ebola virus (EBOV) and Marburg virus (MARV) has been reported in some African countries in individuals without a history of haemorrhagic fever. In this study, we present a MARV and EBOV seroprevalence study conducted amongst blood donors in the Republic of Congo and the analysis of risk factors for contact with EBOV. METHODOLOGY AND FINDINGS: In 2011, we conducted a MARV and EBOV seroprevalence study amongst 809 blood donors recruited in rural (75; 9.3%) and urban (734; 90.7%) areas of the Republic of Congo. Serum titres of IgG antibodies to MARV and EBOV were assessed by indirect double-immunofluorescence microscopy. MARV seroprevalence was 0.5% (4 in 809) without any identified risk factors. Prevalence of IgG to EBOV was 2.5%, peaking at 4% in rural areas and in Pointe Noire. Independent risk factors identified by multivariate analysis were contact with bats and exposure to birds. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: This MARV and EBOV serological survey performed in the Republic of Congo identifies a probable role for environmental determinants of exposure to EBOV. It highlights the requirement for extending our understanding of the ecological and epidemiological risk of bats (previously identified as a potential ecological reservoir) and birds as vectors of EBOV to humans, and characterising the protection potentially afforded by EBOV-specific antibodies as detected in blood donors.

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Authors
Moyen, N., Thirion, L., Emmerich, P., Dzia-Lepfoundzou, A., Richet, H., Boehmann, Y., Dimi, Y., Gallian, P., Gould, E. A., Günther, S., & de Lamballerie, X.
Affiliations
  • École des Hautes Études en Santé Publique (FR)
  • Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (DE)
  • Méditerranée Infection Foundation (FR)
Corresponding author
Moyen, Nanikaly
ORCID
Venue
PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Published
2015-06-05
Volume
9
Issue
6
Pages
e0003833
ISSN
  • 1935-2727 (ISSN-L)
  • 1935-2735
DOI
10.1371/journal.pntd.0003833
PMC
PMC4457487
OpenAlex
W1837621468
Cited by
30
References
3
Citations by year
2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 1
FWCI
2.60
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • PLoS neglected tropical diseases (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HAL (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Philipps-Universität Marburg
  • European Commission (278433)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Viral Infections and Vectors
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Virology and Viral Diseases
Keywords
Ebola virus, Marburg virus, seroprevalence, blood donors, risk factors, bats, birds, zoonotic transmission, filoviruses, hemorrhagic fever, IgG, urban-rural differences, Republic of the Congo
MeSH terms
Analysis of Variance, Animals, Blood Donors, Congo, Humans, Immunoglobulin G, Marburg Virus Disease, Surveys and Questionnaires, Risk Factors, Seroepidemiologic Studies, Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect, Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola

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