An interesting journal article that I read from nature.com is about a study being conducted to find the primary source of the recent Ebola outbreak in Africa. Between the years of 2001 and 2005, there were a high numbers of individuals being infected by the Ebola virus, and also been linked to the concurrent outbreaks that devastated the gorilla and chimpanzee populations. In order to identify the cause, scientists and researchers captured a total of 1,030 animals, including 679 bats, 222 birds and 129 small terrestrial vertebrates, and were tested for the presence of the Ebola virus and/or symptoms. According to the article, it have been found that among the 1,030 captured wild animals, immunoglobin G (IgG) that specific in detecting Ebola virus, were detected in serums from three different classes of bat species. The article imply, "(4 of 17 Hypsignathus monstrosus, 8 of 117 Epomopsfranqueti and 4 of 58 Myonycteris torquata)," (Leroy, 575). On the side notes, the two principle organs that are targeted by the Ebola virus are the liver and the spleen. Based on the article, which indicates, "Viral nucleotide sequences were detected in these organs in other bats from the same populations (4 of 21, 5 of 117 and 4 of 142, respectively). No viral RNA was detected in kidneys, heart or lung in these animals after amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and no viral nucleotide sequences were revealed in any of the other animal species tested," (Leroy, 575). Surprisingly, of the bat species that were captured, majority of the bats were PCR-positive and IgG-positive, but not in all of the captured animals.
Another findings that the article emphasizes is the yearly seasons which can also contribute to the episodic Ebola outbreaks. According to the article, "Mortality among great apes from Ebola infection can increase during the dry seasons when fruit is scarce in the forest-conditions that foster contact between animals as they compete for food. Immune function in bats also changes during these periods, for example as a result of food scarcity or pregnancy, which would favour viral replication and-aided by aggressive interactions-increase infection among great apes," (Leroy, 575). Therefore, the article implies that these factors my contribute to the occasional Ebola outbreaks in Africa. Not only does it apply to animals, humans should consider this factors because native Africans consume these animals by hunting, in another terminology "bushmeats" which is how humans obtain the Ebola virus.
In conclusion, the article states that based on the study that were conducted on the 1,030 captured wild animals, the findings supported the hypothesis of Fruit bats as the natural reservoirs (an organism in which a parasite that is pathogenic for some other species lives and multiplies usually without damaging its host) of the Ebola virus and also Marburg viruses. According to the article, "...and as reservoirs for the virus families Paramyxoviridae and Rhabdoviridae which are genetically related to Ebola," (Leroy, 575).
Article: Fruit bats as reservoirs of Ebola virus
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v438/n7068/abs/438575a.html
Reference:
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v438/n7068/abs/438575a.html
