Family: Filoviridae

Question 1

Filo = _____

Answer 1

threadlike

Question 2

What are the 2 genera of Filoviridae? What other 2 viruses are they genetically similar to?

Answer 2

1. Ebola-like virus (1976 in Sudan and Zaire, Africa)
2. Marburg-like virus (1967 in Germany)

Paramyxoviridae, Rhabdoviridae

Question 3

What are the 5 strains of Ebola?

Answer 3

AFRICAN: Zaire, Sudan, Ivory Coast, Uganda
PHILIPINO: Reston

Question 4

What is the morphology of Filoviridae virions like?

Answer 4

pleomorphic, filamentous, enveloped with glycoprotein spikes

Question 5

What is the genome of Filoviridae like? What makes it unique?

Answer 5

linear, non-segmented, negative-sense ssRNA

Question 6

Ebola vs. Marburg, structure:

Answer 6

Question 7

Ebola vs. Marburg, gemone:

Answer 7

Question 8

How does Ebola-like virus enter host cells? Exit?

Answer 8

macropinocytosis

budding

Question 9

What are the 2 cycles of Ebola virus transmission?

Answer 9

1. ENZOOTIC: bats act as reservoir hosts through the means of local enzootic maintenance and transmission within bat populations
2. EPIZOOTIC: sporadic, high mortality among non-human primates precedes human infection; bat can infect other wildlife of humans via contact + human-to-human transmission (epidemics)

Question 10

What are the 4 steps to Ebola virus pathogenesis?

Answer 10

1. enters bloodstream via skin and and membrane disruption/injury
2. docks host cell membrane
3. releases viral RNA into the cytoplasm and uses host machinery to produce new viral proteins/genetic material
4. new viral genomes are rapidly coated in proteins and creates a core

Question 11

What are the early and acute symptoms of Ebola virus infection?

Answer 11

• EARLY = muscle aches, fever, vomiting, red eyes, rash, diarrhea, stomach pain
• ACUTE = bleeding, hemorrhaging from skin, orifices, and internal organs

Question 12

What lab tests are used for Ebola infection diagnosis?

Answer 12

• PCR
• ELISA

Question 13

What are 3 ways to prevent Ebola virus infection?

Answer 13

1. quarantine/isolation
2. medical staff training for western sanitation practices
3. complete equipment and area sterilization

(NO VACCINE)

Question 14

What happens to Ebola virus after the death of its host? What does this mean for safety?

Answer 14

virus remains contagious in fluids for days

use extreme caution with burial - handling, transport, cultural practices, religious beliefs
(incinerate all waste)