ebola virus: which animal is associated with ebola virus outbreaks course hero

What is Ebola virus disease?

The Ebola virus is a devastating disease that primarily affects Africa. The origin of the Ebola virus is unknown to scientists. They believe that ebola virus disease is animal-borne, with bats or nonhuman primates as the most plausible source, based on similar viruses. Animals infected with the virus, such as apes, can spread it to others.

What is Ebola’s natural host?

Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is a rare and deadly disease in people and nonhuman primates. The viruses that cause EVD are located mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. People can get EVD through direct contact with an infected animal (bat or nonhuman primate) or a sick or dead person infected with Ebola virus. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA ...

Do any other animals get Ebola?

Gorillas, chimpanzees, and other mammals may be implicated when the first cases of an EVD outbreak in people occur. However, they – like people – are “dead-end” hosts, meaning the organism dies following the infection and does not survive and spread the virus to other animals.

How do you get Ebola virus disease?

Transmission (Ebola) The source of this virus, the natural reservoir, is still unknown (Laine, 2015). It is believed that the virus is zoonotic, found in an animal host native to the African continent (Laine, 2015) and is possibly a fruit bat (Johnson & Nolan, 2016).

What animal is associated with Ebola virus outbreaks?

African fruit bats are likely involved in the spread of Ebola virus and may even be the source animal (reservoir host). Scientists continue to search for conclusive evidence of the bat's role in transmission of Ebola.

What animal is thought to be the natural host of the Ebola virus?

Fruit bats in Africa are considered to be the natural host of the Ebola virus and animals such as apes, monkeys or antelope catch the infection from bats. When humans become infected by touching or eating infected animals, the virus can then pass from person to person causing an outbreak.Sep 7, 2016

Is Ebola associated with bats?

The bat, which lives in many parts of Africa, roosts in caves and feeds on insects. Scientists had previously found two other Ebola species in a related insect-eating bat, M. schreibersii. However, most other evidence has pointed to fruit bats as the carriers of Ebola Zaire, Epstein says.

Can you get Ebola from animals?

Additionally, Ebola virus is not known to be transmitted through food. However, in certain parts of the world, Ebola virus may spread through the handling and consumption of wild animal meat or hunted wild animals infected with Ebola. There is no evidence that mosquitoes or other insects can transmit Ebola virus.

What animals are susceptible to Ebola and experience high mortality rates?

Ebola viruses have also been detected in species such as non-human primates (apes and monkeys), and duikers (a small wild antelope). However, non-human primates are not considered as natural hosts because of their high sensitivity to the virus and their high mortality rate when infected.

How did fruit bats get Ebola?

Scientists believe people risk infection when they or their domestic livestock, like pigs, consume raw fruits contaminated by the saliva or droppings of one of three species of fruit bats in Africa found to have antibodies to Ebola.

What is the agent in Ebola?

Causative agent Ebola virus disease (EVD; formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever) is caused by infection with Ebola virus which belongs to the family Filoviridae. EVD in humans has an average case fatality rate of around 50% (varied from 25% to 90% in previous outbreaks).Apr 24, 2020

What country is the Ebola River in?

Ebola was discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo. Since then, the virus has emerged periodically from its natural reservoir (which remains unknown) and infected people in several African countries.

How did Ebola virus get its name?

Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a severe disease that is caused by a virus. Ebola is named for the river in Africa where the disease was first recognized in 1976. The exact origin and natural host of Ebola virus are unknown. There are four kinds of Ebola virus: Ebola- Ivory Coast, Ebola-Reston, Ebola-Sudan, and Ebola-Zaire.

Are animals immune to Ebola?

The virus has never been observed in these species in the wild, but like pigs and dogs, these animals do not appear to get ill or die from Ebola.Oct 8, 2014

What animal is bush meat?

Bushmeat is a catchall phrase for the meat of wild animals, but it most often refers to the remains of animals killed in the forests and savannas of Africa. African people have long hunted bats, monkeys, rats, snakes, and other wild animals for sustenance.Jun 19, 2019

Who created Ebola?

The initial response was led by Congolese doctors, including Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum, one of the discoverers of Ebola.

What is the host of Ebola?

It is thought that fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are natural Ebola virus hosts. Ebola is introduced into the human population through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals such as fruit bats, chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, forest antelope or porcupines found ill or dead or in the rainforest.

Where did the Ebola virus first appear?

The latter occurred in a village near the Ebola River, from which the disease takes its name. The 2014–2016 outbreak in West Africa was the ...

How long does it take for Ebola to show symptoms?

Symptoms. The incubation period, that is, the time interval from infection with the virus to onset of symptoms, is from 2 to 21 days. A person infected with Ebola cannot spread the disease until they develop symptoms. Symptoms of EVD can be sudden and include: Fever. Fatigue.

What are the complications of Ebola?

A number of medical complications have been reported in people who recovered from Ebola, including mental health issues. Ebola virus may persist in some body fluids, including semen, pregnancy-related fluids and breast milk.

Where does the virus persist?

In women who have been infected while pregnant, the virus persists in the placenta, amniotic fluid and fetus. In women who have been infected while breastfeeding, the virus may persist in breast milk.

What is the most recent Ebola virus?

Scientists continue to search for conclusive evidence of the bat’s role in transmission of Ebola. 1 The most recent Ebola virus to be detected, Bombali virus, was identified in samples from bats collected in Sierra Leone. 2.

Where did the Ebola virus originate?

The first outbreak occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) in a village near the Ebola River, which gave the virus its name. The second outbreak occurred in what is now South Sudan, approximately 500 miles (850 km) away.

How did the 1994 Cote d'Ivoire outbreak affect the public health?

By the 1994 Cote d’Ivoire outbreak, scientists and public health officials had a better understanding of how Ebola virus spreads and progress was made to reduce transmission through the use of face masks, gloves and gowns for healthcare personnel . In addition, the use of disposable equipment, such as needles, was introduced.

How is Ebola maintained in the environment?

Thus, the virus is likely maintained in the environment by spreading from host to host or through intermediate hosts or vectors. African fruit bats are likely involved in the spread of Ebola virus and may even be the source animal (reservoir host).

What factors contributed to the spread of Ebola?

Factors like population growth, encroachment into forested areas, and direct interaction with wildlife (such as bushmeat consumption) may have contributed to the spread of the Ebola virus. Since its discovery in 1976, the majority ...

What animals are reservoir hosts?

Following the discovery of the virus, scientists studied thousands of animals, insects, and plants in search of its source (called reservoir among virologists, people who study viruses). Gorillas, chimpanzees, and other mammals may be implicated when the first cases of an EVD outbreak in people occur. However, they – like people – are “dead-end” hosts, meaning the organism dies following the infection and does not survive and spread the virus to other animals. Like other viruses of its kind, it is possible that the reservoir host animal of Ebola virus does not experience acute illness despite the virus being present in its organs, tissues, and blood. Thus, the virus is likely maintained in the environment by spreading from host to host or through intermediate hosts or vectors.

Can birds spread Ebola?

There is limited data about the prevalence of Ebola in birds but a 2002 study from Purdue University found that the Ebola virus closely resembles the structure of several bird viruses. This means birds may be able to spread the virus to humans.

Do guinea pigs get Ebola?

The virus has never been observed in these species in the wild, but like pigs and dogs, these animals do not appear to get ill or die from Ebola.

Can dogs get Ebola?

To date, there is no documented case of Ebola spreading to people from dogs or dogs to people, and only one study, carried out by the CDC, looks at whether dogs can get Ebola at all. This research into the prevalence of Ebola-virus antibodies in dogs from regions of Gabon affected by the 2001–2002 outbreak showed that “dogs can be infected by Ebola virus” but exhibit no symptoms and the infection eventually clears.

Can a bush pig get Ebola?

Ebola has to date been found in many bush animals, including bush pigs , rodents, porcupines and forest-dwelling antelope. Any infected carcasses could spread the virus to hunters or to anyone who eats bush meat.

Is there a difference between having a disease and transmitting it to another animal?

But there is a difference between having a disease and transmitting it to another animal—or another species. That’s at the heart of a controversial move by Spanish health authorities, who have obtained a court order to euthanize the dog belonging to a nurse who contracted the Ebola virus in Madrid, saying that available scientific knowledge ...

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