New 'game changing' Ebola research improves understanding virus in great apes

A new research in Ebola virus has developed a new method to study the virus in wildlife by describing the use of fecal samples from wild great apes.

The study conducted the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) collected and tested fecal samples from 80 free-ranging wild gorillas from five different habitats in northern Republic of Congo and almost half of those were collected within 2-4 years of confirmed Ebola outbreaks in resident apes.

The study showed that 10% of the samples tested positive, illustrating the success of this test in detecting antibodies against Ebola virus in feces.

WCS field veterinarian Dr. Kenneth Cameron, said that ethical issues, as well as the cost and risk involved, make hands-on examination of wild great apes for research problematic and this new methodology will make immunologic studies in wild apes safer and much easier, providing us with the ability to answer research questions that simply were beyond reach before.

WCS veterinarian Alain Ondzie said that scientists could better understand patterns of Ebola virus infection in wildlife, the public health sector could be more prepared to prevent human outbreaks.

The newly developed method can help to collect ape feces over large areas of forest habitat where Ebola is a threat, and levels of antibodies in the sampled animals can be compared over time and between seasons and regions all without the expense and risks of animal capture and handling.

The study is published in the journal PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.