EBOLA VIRUS - COMPARISON, AT ULTRASTRUCTURAL LEVEL, OF THE BEHAVIOR OF THE SUDAN AND ZAIRE STRAINS IN MONKEYS

Abstract

Histopathological and EM examination of human liver specimens collected during the Ebola hemorrhagic fever outbreaks in Zaire and Sudan indicated that Zairean strains of the virus produced more extensive lesions. Experimental infection of rhesus monkeys with Zairean and Sudanese strains of Ebola virus produced similar changes to those found in man. In Zairean strain infections, large numbers of virus particles were found in the liver, lung and spleen accompanied by extensive necrosis in the spleen. In Sudan strain infections, particles were found only in the liver and in greatly reduced numbers. The main distinction lay in the high proportion of aberrant particles found with the Sudanese strain. The possibility of these being defective particles is discussed.