Discovery and Description of Ebola Zaire Virus in 1976 and Relevance to the West African Epidemic During 2013-2016.

BACKGROUND: In 1976, the first cases of Ebola virus disease in northern Democratic Republic of the Congo (then referred to as Zaire) were reported. This article addresses who was responsible for recognizing the disease; recovering, identifying, and naming the virus; and describing the epidemic. Key scientific approaches used in 1976 and their relevance to the 3-country (Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia) West African epidemic during 2013-2016 are presented. METHODS: Field and laboratory investigations started soon after notification, in mid-September 1976, and included virus cell culture, electron microscopy (EM), immunofluorescence antibody (IFA) testing of sera, case tracing, containment, and epidemiological surveys. In 2013-2016, medical care and public health work were delayed for months until the Ebola virus disease epidemic was officially declared an emergency by World Health Organization, but research in pathogenesis, clinical presentation, including sequelae, treatment, and prevention, has increased more recently. RESULTS: Filoviruses were cultured and observed by EM in Antwerp, Belgium (Institute of Tropical Medicine); Porton Down, United Kingdom (Microbiological Research Establishment); and Atlanta, Georgia (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). In Atlanta, serological testing identified a new virus. The 1976 outbreak (280 deaths among 318 cases) stopped in <11 weeks, and basic clinical and epidemiological features were defined. The recent massive epidemic during 2013-2016 (11 310 deaths among 28 616 cases) has virtually stopped after >2 years. Transmission indices (R0) are higher in all 3 countries than in 1976. CONCLUSIONS: An international commission working harmoniously in laboratories and with local communities was essential for rapid success in 1976. Control and understanding of the recent West African outbreak were delayed because of late recognition and because authorities were overwhelmed by many patients and poor community involvement. Despite obstacles, research was a priority in 1976 and recently.

Eficácia da vacina anti-rábica ERA em camundongos, frente a quatro diferentes variantes antigênicas do vírus da raiva / Evaluation of ERA anti-rabies vaccine against four different antigenic strains of rabies virus in mice

Estudou-se a eficácia da vacina anti-rábica preparada em cultura primária de tecido renal de suínos, a partir da amostra ERA, na prevençäo da raiva em camundongos, frente a quatro cepas antigenicamente distintas do vírus rábico, duas originadas de cäo C/SP E C/NG, uma originada de morcego, DR-19, e uma cepa fixa, CVS (Challenge Virus Standard). O perfil antigênico desta cepa foi determinado pela técnica dos anticorpos anti-rábicos monoclonais antinucleocapside. Os animais foram vacinados, aos 21 dias de idade, por via intramuscular na face interna da coxa, com uma única dose de 0,05 ml de vacina e desafiados aos 42 dias de idade, em conjunto com os animais do grupo testemunho, por via intramuscular na face interna da coxa, com 0,05 ml de suspensäo da cepa viral correspondente. Os resultados obtidos permitiram constatar que a vacina ERA protegeu 100% dos animais desafiados com as cepas C/SP, C/NG e DR-19 e 83% dos animais desafiados com a cepa CVS, enquanto que a mortalidade no grupo testemunho variou entre 70 e 90%

Determinaçäo do perfil antigênico de 3 cepas de virus rabico, isoladas no Brasil, através da técnica dos anticorpos monoclonais antinucleocapside / Determination of nucleocapside antigenic characteristics of 3 rabies virus strains isolated in Brazil by anti-nucleocapside, monoclonal antibodies technique

Determinou-se, através da técnica dos anticorpos monoclonais, o perfil antigênico antinucleocapside de 3 cepas de virus rábico, isoladas no Brasil, com o auxilio de técnica de imunofluorescência indireta. Duas das cepas eram de origem de cäo, uma delas procedente da cidade de Jales, SP, e a outra oriunda da Nigéria, Africa. A terceira cepa era de origem de morcego, identificada com DR 19 e considerada como cepa intermediária entre as fixas e as naturais. Os resultados obtidos evidenciaram diferenças pronunciadas entre as 3 cepas, caracterizando-as como distintas antigenicamente, mas com perfil antigênico caracteristico das cepas rábicas. Os resultados confirmaram, também, a procedência da cepa Nigéria, uma vez que seu perfil antigênico coincidiu com o daquelas isoladas em seu pais de origem. As cepas Jales e Nigéria, embora originárias de uma mesma espécie animal, apresentaram os perfis antigênicos do nucleocapside distintos