Abstract
Ebolaviruses and marburgviruses are filoviruses that are known to cause severe hemorrhagic fever in humans and nonhuman primates (NHPs). While some bat species are suspected to be natural reservoirs of these filoviruses, wild NHPs often act as intermediate hosts for viral transmission to humans. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, we screened two NHP species, wild baboons and vervet monkeys captured in Zambia, for their serum IgG antibodies specific to the envelope glycoproteins of filoviruses. From 243 samples tested, 39 NHPs (16%) were found to be seropositive either for ebolaviruses or marburgviruses with endpoint antibody titers ranging from 100 to 25,600. Interestingly, antibodies reactive to Reston virus, which is found only in Asia, were detected in both NHP species. There was a significant difference in the seropositivity for the marburgvirus antigen between the two NHP species, with baboons having a higher positive rate. These results suggest that wild NHPs in Zambia might be nonlethally exposed to these filoviruses, and this emphasizes the need for continuous monitoring of filovirus infection in wild animals to better understand the ecology of filoviruses and to assess potential risks of outbreaks in humans in previously nonendemic countries.
Highlights
Filoviruses, including ebolaviruses and marburgviruses, have a non-segmented negativestranded RNA genome and are phylogenetically divided into six genera: Ebolavirus, Marburgvirus, Cuevavirus, Dianlovirus, Striavirus, and Thamnovirus
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was used to screen nonhuman primates (NHPs) serum samples for IgG antibodies to filovirus GPs
We recently reported a high seroprevalence of antibodies to MARV, as well as the detection of the MARV genome, in Egyptian fruit bats in Zambia, indicating that marburgviruses are circulating in these cave-dwelling bat species in Zambia [28,42]
Summary
Filoviruses, including ebolaviruses and marburgviruses, have a non-segmented negativestranded RNA genome and are phylogenetically divided into six genera: Ebolavirus, Marburgvirus, Cuevavirus, Dianlovirus, Striavirus, and Thamnovirus. The genus Marburgvirus has a single species with two known viruses (Marburg virus (MARV) and Ravn virus), Sudan ebolavirus, Tai Forest ebolavirus, Bundibugyo ebolavirus, Reston ebolavirus, 2aonfd10Bombali ebolavirus, represented by Ebola virus (EBOV), Sudan virus (SUDV), Taï Forest virus (TAFV), Bundibugyo virus (BDBV), Reston virus (RESTV), and Bombali virus, respecbtuivtesliyx [d1i]s.tiOncfttshpeesceiefsilaorveircuusreresn, tMlyAkRnVow, EnBinOtVh,eSgUenDuVs,ETbAolaFvVir,uasn: dZaBirDe BebVolaavrieruksn, Souw-n to be dhaunmebaonla-vpirauths,oTgaeinFiocrefsiltoevbiorluavsiersust,hBautncdaiubusegyhoeemboolarvrihraugs,icRefestvoenre, bnoalamvierulys,ManadrbBuormgbvaliirus diseebaolsaevi(rMusV, rDep)reasnedntEedboblyaEvbiorluasvdiriusse(aEsBeO(EVV), DSu)diannhvuirmusa(nSsUaDnVd),nToaïnFhouremstavnirpursi(mTAatFeVs),(NHPs). B[u2]n.dRibEuSgTyVo cvairuusses(BdDisBeVa)s,eRienstNonHvPisruasn(dREhSaTs Va)ls, oanbdeeBnomfobuanlidviinrups,igrses[p3e,4c]ti.vAellyth[o1u].gh it is Onfotthkenseowfilnovtoirucsaeuss,eMdAisReVa,seEBinOhVu, mSUaDnsV,, tThAerFeV,haanvde bBeDeBnVreapreorktnsoowf nsetroocboenhvuemrsaionn- in hupmatahnosgeanfticerficloovnirtaucsteswthitaht RcaEuSseTVhe-minoferrchteagdicNfHevPers, onrampieglys M[3a,4r]b.urg virus disease (MVD) actooanuudcssaEeuosNbsuoedHtlibdasPreivsesaeiasraaekurssseienodkinNfinsEhHoeaVuwPsmDsenaa,(tEnnolasVdbr,Dghtehe)ahesidrinageilehhsh-ulooaymvfbfseeasuenbosnsecfefeaNonpnudtHrniebnPdplosoeinnrhtthospauviofmgieflsoasb[ven3eri,eorp4uncr].oismrnAienvalctetfoheerrsoscditu(oieNgondhnHi.pniPtIrnshii)sous[rnmo2ot]mao.tnRkeosnEoraoSfdfwTttuehVnrreinpgretvhiecoounttbacrtewakitsh[5R–E8S]T. TThhaed never sroeuprocertoedf iannfeoctuiotbnrienakth[e1fi1–rs1t6e].ver recorded outbreak of a filovirus disease, MVD, was AfricaTnhgereaeinmmoofntkheiysss[t1u0d].yAwntaisbotodiiensvtoesvtaigriaotuestfihleovpiorussseibslheaevxepboeseunrdeeotefcNteHd iPnssteovefrilaolviruses NinHZPasmpebciiae,s,wbhotehreinnaeriethaserofanpreEvVioDusnlyorreapnorMtedVDouotburtebarkesaaknhdatshoesveetrhbateehnadrenceovredred. We rZsseapcpmreoecrbTeitinfehaidee,cwdaaIignh2mGe4or3o.uefTtsnbtehherreiieutsarhmseketruw[s1daa1anym–sEw1ep6Vav]lDs.eidstoneconionrclvlaeeencsottMfiegpdVartDfeervotohimuoetubpNsroeHseasxkPipbhsloeaisnseuxeZrpveaeomrtsoubbrefeiiealnooffvroNeircrHouthrPsdeesesdtdoie.nfitWeltochetveisioscrurneesNeoenfsHefidniPlopvoirpuus-2l4a3tisoenrsu.m samples collected from NHPs in Zambia for the detection of filovirus-specific
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