Ebola Virus Disease in Domestic and Wild Animals: A Review

Abstract

Ebola virus disease (formerly Ebola hemorrhagic fever) is an acute viral syndrome that presents with fever and an ensuing bleeding diathesis that is marked by high mortality in human and nonhuman primates. The disease is caused by genus Ebola virus. Ebola virus consists five species namely Zaire ebolavirus, Sudan ebolavirus, Taï Forest ebolavirus (formerly Cote d’Ivoire ebolavirus), Reston ebolavirus and Bundibugyo ebolavirus. Among them the Bundibugyo ebolavirus, Zaire ebolavirus, and Sudan ebolavirus have been associated with large outbreaks in Africa. Fruit bats are considered to be the only natural host of the Ebola virus. Nonhuman primates are severely affected by filoviruses. EBOV is thought to enter the human population through exposure to the bodily fluids of an infected fruit bat or mammal, especially non-human primates. In general there is no or little evidence that domestic animals play an active epidemiological role in the transmission of the disease to humans. Dogs appear to be the first animal species shown to be naturally and asymptomatically infected by Ebola virus. The diagnosis of EVD is confirmed by isolating the virus, detecting its RNA or proteins by PCR, or detecting antibodies against the virus by ELISA. To control EBV disease, good food preparation practices, animal testing for Ebola virus, culling of infected animals, with close supervision of burial or incineration of carcasses, may be necessary to reduce the risk of animal-to-human transmission. Disease reporting, routine cleaning and disinfection and restricting or banning the movement of animals from infected farms to other areas can reduce the spread of the disease.

Keywords: Ebola virus disease, Domestic animals, Wild animals, Natural reservoir host