The current landscape of nucleic acid tests for filovirus detection

There is no author summary for this article yet. Authors can add summaries to their articles on ScienceOpen to make them more accessible to a non-specialist audience.

Highlights

•

Filoviruses can cause severe hemorrhagic fever in humans and non-human primates.
•

There is an urgent need for rapid diagnosis of filoviruses during outbreaks.
•

Filovirus diagnostics have advanced since the 2014–2016 Ebolavirus outbreak.
•

NATs are the gold standard for filovirus detection.
•

NAT-based diagnostic speed, portability and multiplexing have all improved.

Abstract

Nucleic acid testing (NAT) for pathogenic filoviruses plays a key role in surveillance and to control the spread of infection. As they share clinical features with other pathogens, the initial spread of these viruses can be misdiagnosed. Tests that can identify a pathogen in the initial stages of infection are essential to control outbreaks. Since the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in 2014–2016 several tests have been developed that are faster than previous tests and more suited for field use. Furthermore, the ability to test for a range of pathogens simultaneously has been expanded to improve clinical pathway management of febrile syndromes. This review provides an overview of these novel diagnostic tests.

Related collections

Most cited references 57

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: not found

Rapid detection and quantification of RNA of Ebola and Marburg viruses, Lassa virus, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, Rift Valley fever virus, dengue virus, and yellow fever virus by real-time reverse transcription-PCR.

Christian Drosten, Stephan Göttig, Stefan Schilling … (2002)

Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) are acute infections with high case fatality rates. Important VHF agents are Ebola and Marburg viruses (MBGV/EBOV), Lassa virus (LASV), Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), dengue virus (DENV), and yellow fever virus (YFV). VHFs are clinically difficult to diagnose and to distinguish; a rapid and reliable laboratory diagnosis is required in suspected cases. We have established six one-step, real-time reverse transcription-PCR assays for these pathogens based on the Superscript reverse transcriptase-Platinum Taq polymerase enzyme mixture. Novel primers and/or 5'-nuclease detection probes were designed for RVFV, DENV, YFV, and CCHFV by using the latest DNA database entries. PCR products were detected in real time on a LightCycler instrument by using 5'-nuclease technology (RVFV, DENV, and YFV) or SybrGreen dye intercalation (MBGV/EBOV, LASV, and CCHFV). The inhibitory effect of SybrGreen on reverse transcription was overcome by initial immobilization of the dye in the reaction capillaries. Universal cycling conditions for SybrGreen and 5'-nuclease probe detection were established. Thus, up to three assays could be performed in parallel, facilitating rapid testing for several pathogens. All assays were thoroughly optimized and validated in terms of analytical sensitivity by using in vitro-transcribed RNA. The >or=95% detection limits as determined by probit regression analysis ranged from 1,545 to 2,835 viral genome equivalents/ml of serum (8.6 to 16 RNA copies per assay). The suitability of the assays was exemplified by detection and quantification of viral RNA in serum samples of VHF patients.

0 comments Cited 193 times – based on 0 reviews      Review now

Bookmark

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: not found

Ebola RNA Persistence in Semen of Ebola Virus Disease Survivors - Preliminary Report.

Gibrilla Deen, Nathalie Broutet, Wenbo Xu … (2017)

Background Ebola virus has been detected in the semen of men after their recovery from Ebola virus disease (EVD), but little information is available about its prevalence or the duration of its persistence. We report the initial findings of a pilot study involving survivors of EVD in Sierra Leone. Methods We enrolled a convenience sample of 100 male survivors of EVD in Sierra Leone, at different times after their recovery from EVD, and recorded self-reported information about sociodemographic characteristics, the EVD episode, and health status. Semen specimens obtained at baseline were tested by means of a quantitative reverse-transcriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) assay with the use of the target-gene sequences of NP and VP40. Results A total of 93 participants provided an initial semen specimen for analysis, of whom 46 (49%) had positive results on quantitative RT-PCR. Ebola virus RNA was detected in the semen of all 9 men who had a specimen obtained 2 to 3 months after the onset of EVD, in the semen of 26 of 40 (65%) who had a specimen obtained 4 to 6 months after onset, and in the semen of 11 of 43 (26%) who had a specimen obtained 7 to 9 months after onset; the results for 1 participant who had a specimen obtained at 10 months were indeterminate. The median cycle-threshold values (for which higher values indicate lower RNA levels) were 32.0 with the NP gene target and 31.1 with the VP40 gene target for specimens obtained at 2 to 3 months, 34.5 and 32.3, respectively, for specimens obtained at 4 to 6 months, and 37.0 and 35.6, respectively, for specimens obtained at 7 to 9 months. Conclusions These data showed the persistence of Ebola virus RNA in semen and declining persistence with increasing months since the onset of EVD. We do not yet have data on the extent to which positivity on RT-PCR is associated with virus infectivity. Although cases of suspected sexual transmission of Ebola have been reported, they are rare; hence the risk of sexual transmission of the Ebola virus is being investigated. (Funded by the World Health Organization and others.).

0 comments Cited 157 times – based on 0 reviews      Review now

Bookmark

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: found

Is Open Access

Large serological survey showing cocirculation of Ebola and Marburg viruses in Gabonese bat populations, and a high seroprevalence of both viruses in Rousettus aegyptiacus

Xavier Pourrut, Marc Souris, Jonathan S. Towner … (2009)

Background Ebola and Marburg viruses cause highly lethal hemorrhagic fevers in humans. Recently, bats of multiple species have been identified as possible natural hosts of Zaire ebolavirus (ZEBOV) in Gabon and Republic of Congo, and also of marburgvirus (MARV) in Gabon and Democratic Republic of Congo. Methods We tested 2147 bats belonging to at least nine species sampled between 2003 and 2008 in three regions of Gabon and in the Ebola epidemic region of north Congo for IgG antibodies specific for ZEBOV and MARV. Results Overall, IgG antibodies to ZEBOV and MARV were found in 4% and 1% of bats, respectively. ZEBOV-specific antibodies were found in six bat species (Epomops franqueti, Hypsignathus monstrosus, Myonycteris torquata, Micropteropus pusillus, Mops condylurus and Rousettus aegyptiacus), while MARV-specific antibodies were only found in Rousettus aegyptiacus and Hypsignathus monstrosus. The prevalence of MARV-specific IgG was significantly higher in R. aegyptiacus members captured inside caves than elsewhere. No significant difference in prevalence was found according to age or gender. A higher prevalence of ZEBOV-specific IgG was found in pregnant females than in non pregnant females. Conclusion These findings confirm that ZEBOV and MARV co-circulate in Gabon, the only country where bats infected by each virus have been found. IgG antibodies to both viruses were detected only in Rousettus aegyptiacus, suggesting that this bat species may be involved in the natural cycle of both Marburg and Ebola viruses. The presence of MARV in Gabon indicates a potential risk for a first human outbreak. Disease surveillance should be enhanced in areas near caves.

0 comments Cited 133 times – based on 0 reviews      Review now

Bookmark

All references

Author and article information

Contributors

David J. Clark

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): J Clin Virol

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): J. Clin. Virol

Title: Journal of Clinical Virology

Publisher: Elsevier Science

ISSN (Print): 1386-6532

ISSN (Electronic): 1873-5967

Publication date PMC-release: 1 June 2018

Publication date (Print): June 2018

Volume: 103

Pages: 27-36

Affiliations

[a ]Centre for Diagnostics & Antimicrobial Resistance, Institute for Infection & Immunity, St. George’s University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE, UK

[b ]Institute for Infection & Immunity, St. George’s University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE, UK

[c ]QuantuMDx, Lugano Building, 57 Melbourne Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 2JQ, UK

[d ]St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Blackshaw Road, Tooting, London SW17 0QT, UK

Author notes

[* ]Corresponding author at: Centre for Diagnostics and Antimicrobial Resistance, Institute for Infection & Immunity, St. George’s University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London SW170RE, UK daclark@ 123456sgul.ac.uk

Article

Publisher ID: S1386-6532(18)30068-4

DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2018.03.005

PMC ID: 5958242

PubMed ID: 29625392

SO-VID: 2b8a2287-46f9-4adc-bca7-fe7af6b56b12

License:

This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

History

Date received : 26 February 2018

Date accepted : 14 March 2018

Comments

Comment on this article

scite_

Cited by 6

See all cited by

Most referenced authors 2,147

See all reference authors

- Version 1

The current landscape of nucleic acid tests for filovirus detection

Read this article at

Highlights

Abstract

Related collections

Point-of-Care Testing for Infectious Diseases Super Collection

Most cited references 57

Rapid detection and quantification of RNA of Ebola and Marburg viruses, Lassa virus, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, Rift Valley fever virus, dengue virus, and yellow fever virus by real-time reverse transcription-PCR.

Ebola RNA Persistence in Semen of Ebola Virus Disease Survivors - Preliminary Report.

Large serological survey showing cocirculation of Ebola and Marburg viruses in Gabonese bat populations, and a high seroprevalence of both viruses in Rousettus aegyptiacus

Author and article information

Contributors

Journal

Affiliations

Author notes

Article

History

Categories

Comments

Comment on this article

Similar content 56

Cited by 6

Most referenced authors 2,147