Summary
Ebola and Marburg virus, forming the Filoviridae family, cause hemorrhagic fever in countries of sub-Saharan Africa. These viral diseases are characterized by a sudden epidemic occurrence as well as a high lethality. Even though a reservoir host has not been approved yet, literature indicates the order of bats (Chiroptera) as a potential reservoir host. Significant references lead to a delineation of a hypothetical ecosystem of Filoviridae including Chiroptera. IgG-specific Ebola-Zaire antibodies were detected in Hammer-headed Bats (Hypsignathus monstrosus), Epauletted Fruit Bats (Epomops franqueti), and Little Collared Fruit Bats (Myonycteris torquata) during Ebola outbreaks between 2001 and 2005 in Gabon and the Republic of the Congo. The discovery of IgG-specific-Marburg virus antibodies and virus-specific ribonucleic acid in Egyptian Fruit Bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) provided further indication for the exploration of the reservoir host. In 2007, the Marburg virus isolation could for the first time be accomplished directly from apparently healthy and naturally infected Egyptian Fruit Bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) in Kitaka Mine (Uganda). Risk groups can be defined through chronological reprocessing and interpretation of existing epidemic-outbreaks on the African continent and the search for infection reasons of the index cases. The following risk factors for an infection with Ebola or Marburg virus must be put into consideration: Contact with and consumption of wild animal carcasses, sightseeing in caves as well as work in mines. The focus of this review is the demonstration of risk profiles and their exposure to Chiroptera and other potential reservoir hosts.
Zusammenfassung
Die Familie der Filoviridae beinhaltet das Ebola- und das Marburgvirus, die hämorrhagisches Fieber in sub-Sahara Afrika auslösen können. Diese viralen Erkrankungen weisen eine hohe Letalitätsrate und ein plötzliches, epidemisches Auftreten auf. In der Literatur gibt es zahlreiche Hinweise, dass die Ordnung der Fledertiere (Chiroptera) einen potentiellen Reservoirwirt darstellen könnte. Signifikante Hinweise lassen ein hypothetisches Ökosystem der Filoviridae mit Beteiligung von Chiroptera skizzieren. Während der Ebola-Ausbrüche zwischen 2001 und 2005 in Gabun und der Republik Kongo konnten in Hammerkopf- (Hypsignathus monstrosus), Epauletten- (Epomops franqueti) und Schmalkragenflughunden (Myonycteris torquata) IgG-spezifische Ebola-Zaire-Antikörper nachgewiesen werden. Die Entdeckung von IgG-spezifischen Marburgvirus-Antikörpern und virusspezifischer Ribonukleinsäure in Nilflughunden (Rousettus aegyptiacus) gilt als weiteres Indiz in der Erforschung des Reservoirwirtes. In der Kitaka-Mine (Uganda) gelang 2007 erstmals eine Marburgvirus-Isolation aus asymptomatischen, natürlich infizierten Nilflughunden (Rousettus aegyptiacus). Anhand einer chronologischen Aufarbeitung und Interpretation der einzelnen Epidemiefälle am afrikanischen Kontinent und der Suche nach den Infektionsgründen der Indexfälle, lassen sich menschliche Risikogruppen abgrenzen. Neben der Verwertung von Wildtierkadavern, stellen die touristische Besichtigung von Höhlen und der berufliche Alltag in Minen nicht zu vernachlässigende Risiken für eine Infektion dar. Im Vordergrund dieser Arbeit steht die Darstellung dieser Risikoprofile im Zusammenhang mit einer Exposition gegenüber Chiroptera und anderen möglichen Reservoirwirten.
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Laminger, F., Prinz, A. Fledertiere und andere Reservoirwirte der Filoviridae. Epidemiegefahr am afrikanischen Kontinent? – Eine deduktive Literaturanalyse. Wien Klin Wochenschr 122 (Suppl 3), 19–30 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-010-1434-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-010-1434-x