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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
High prevalence of both humoral and cellular immunity to Zaire ebolavirus among rural populations in Gabon
PLoS ONE, Volume 5, No. 2, Article e9126, Year 2010
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Description
To better understand Zaire ebolavirus (ZEBOV) circulation and transmission to humans, we conducted a large serological survey of rural populations in Gabon, a country characterized by both epidemic and non epidemic regions. The survey lasted three years and covered 4,349 individuals from 220 randomly selected villages, representing 10.7% of all villages in Gabon. Using a sensitive and specific ELISA method, we found a ZEBOV-specific IgG seroprevalence of 15.3% overall, the highest ever reported. The seroprevalence rate was significantly higher in forested areas (19.4%) than in other ecosystems, namely grassland (12.4%), savannah (10.5%), and lakeland (2.7%). No other risk factors for seropositivity were found. The specificity of anti-ZEBOV IgG was confirmed by Western blot in 138 individuals, and CD8 T cells from seven IgG+ individuals were shown to produce IFN-γ after ZEBOV stimulation. Together, these findings show that a large fraction of the human population living in forested areas of Gabon has both humoral and cellular immunity to ZEBOV. In the absence of identified risk factors, the high prevalence of "immune" persons suggests a common source of human exposure such as fruits contaminated by bat saliva. These findings provide significant new insights into ZEBOV circulation and human exposure, and raise important questions as to the human pathogenicity of ZEBOV and the existence of natural protective immunization. © 2015 Becquart et al.
Authors & Co-Authors
Becquart, Pierre
Gabon, Franceville
Centre International de Recherches Medicales de Franceville
France, Marseille
Émergence Des Pathologies Virales
Wauquier, Nadia
Gabon, Franceville
Centre International de Recherches Medicales de Franceville
Mahlakõiv, Tanel
Gabon, Franceville
Centre International de Recherches Medicales de Franceville
Nkoghé, Dieudonné D.
Gabon, Franceville
Centre International de Recherches Medicales de Franceville
Padilla, Cindy
Gabon, Franceville
Centre International de Recherches Medicales de Franceville
Souris, Marc
France, Marseille
Émergence Des Pathologies Virales
Thailand, Nakhon Pathom
Mahidol University
Ollomo, Benjamin
Gabon, Franceville
Centre International de Recherches Medicales de Franceville
Gonzalez, J. P.
Gabon, Franceville
Centre International de Recherches Medicales de Franceville
De-Lamballerie, Xavier Nicolas
France, Marseille
Émergence Des Pathologies Virales
Kazanji, Mirdad
Gabon, Franceville
Centre International de Recherches Medicales de Franceville
Leroy, Éric Maurice
Gabon, Franceville
Centre International de Recherches Medicales de Franceville
France, Marseille
Émergence Des Pathologies Virales
Statistics
Citations: 144
Authors: 11
Affiliations: 3
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1371/journal.pone.0009126
e-ISSN:
19326203
Research Areas
Maternal And Child Health
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Quantitative
Study Locations
Gabon