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Serological analysis of Ebola virus survivors and close contacts in Sierra Leone: A cross-sectional study.
- Source :
-
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases . 8/1/2019, Vol. 13 Issue 8, p1-8. 8p. - Publication Year :
- 2019
-
Abstract
- The 2013–2016 Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa was the largest and deadliest outbreak to date. Here we conducted a serological study to examine the antibody levels in survivors and the seroconversion in close contacts who took care of Ebola-infected individuals, but did not develop symptoms of Ebola virus disease. In March 2017, we collected blood samples from 481 individuals in Makeni, Sierra Leone: 214 survivors and 267 close contacts. Using commercial, quantitative ELISAs, we tested the plasma for IgG-specific antibodies against three major viral antigens: GP, the only viral glycoprotein expressed on the virus surface; NP, the most abundant viral protein; and VP40, a major structural protein of Zaire ebolavirus. We also determined neutralizing antibody titers. In the cohort of Ebola survivors, 97.7% of samples (209/214) had measurable antibody levels against GP, NP, and/or VP40. Of these positive samples, all but one had measurable neutralizing antibody titers against Ebola virus. For the close contacts, up to 12.7% (34/267) may have experienced a subclinical virus infection as indicated by detectable antibodies against GP. Further investigation is warranted to determine whether these close contacts truly experienced subclinical infections and whether these asymptomatic infections played a role in the dynamics of transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 19352727
- Volume :
- 13
- Issue :
- 8
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 137837220
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0007654