Serological evidence of zoonotic filovirus exposure among bushmeat hunters in Guinea

Akoi Boré, Joseph, Timothy, Joseph W. S., Tipton, Tom, Kekoura, Ifono, Hall, Yper, Hood, Grace, Longet, Stephanie, Fornace, Kimberly, Lucien, Millimono S., Fehling, Sarah Katarina, and others. (2024) Serological evidence of zoonotic filovirus exposure among bushmeat hunters in Guinea. Nature Communications, 15 (1). p. 4171. E-ISSN 2041-1723. (doi:10.1038/s41467-024-48587-5) (KAR id:106003)

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-48587-5

Abstract

Human Ebola virus (EBOV) outbreaks caused by persistent EBOV infection raises questions on the role of zoonotic spillover in filovirus epidemiology. To characterise filovirus zoonotic exposure, we collected cross-sectional serum samples from bushmeat hunters (n = 498) in Macenta Prefecture Guinea, adjacent to the index site of the 2013 EBOV-Makona spillover event. We identified distinct immune signatures (20/498, 4.0%) to multiple EBOV antigens (GP, NP, VP40) using stepwise ELISA and Western blot analysis and, live EBOV neutralisation (5/20; 25%). Using comparative serological data from PCR-confirmed survivors of the 2013-2016 EBOV outbreak, we demonstrated that most signatures (15/20) were not plausibly explained by prior EBOV-Makona exposure. Subsequent data-driven modelling of EBOV immunological outcomes to remote-sensing environmental data also revealed consistent associations with intact closed canopy forest. Together our findings suggest exposure to other closely related filoviruses prior to the 2013-2016 West Africa epidemic and highlight future surveillance priorities.

Item Type:	Article
DOI/Identification number:	10.1038/s41467-024-48587-5
Uncontrolled keywords:	Animals, Humans, Zoonoses, Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola, Antibodies, Viral, Antigens, Viral, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Cross-Sectional Studies, Disease Outbreaks, Adult, Aged, Middle Aged, Guinea, Female, Male, Ebolavirus, Young Adult, Viral Zoonoses
Subjects:	Q Science Q Science > QH Natural history Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology
Divisions:	Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Biosciences
SWORD Depositor:	JISC Publications Router
Depositing User:	JISC Publications Router
Date Deposited:	29 May 2024 14:14 UTC
Last Modified:	05 Nov 2024 13:11 UTC
Resource URI:	https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/106003 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Rossman, Jeremy S..

Creator's ORCID:	https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6124-4103
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