Pathology of experimental Ebola virus infection in African green monkeys. Involvement of fibroblastic reticular cells.
BACKGROUND
Ebola virus has been responsible for explosive lethal outbreaks of hemorrhagic fever in both humans and nonhuman primates. Previous studies showed a predilection of Ebola virus for cells of the mononuclear phagocyte system and endothelial cells.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the distribution of lesions and Ebola virus antigen in the tissues of six adult male African green monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) that died 6 to 7 days after intraperitoneal inoculation of Ebola-Zaire (Mayinga) virus.


METHODS
Tissues were examined histologically, immunohistochemically, and ultrastructurally.


RESULTS
A major novel finding of this study was that fibroblastic reticular cells were immunohistochemically and ultrastructurally identified as targets of Ebola virus infection.


CONCLUSIONS
The role of Ebola virus-infected fibroblastic reticular cells in the pathogenesis of Ebola hemorrhagic fever warrants further investigation. This is especially important because of recent observations indicating that fibroblastic reticular cells, along with the reticular fibers they produce, maximize the efficiency of the immune response.
Davis
K J
KJ
Pathology Division, USAMRIID, Ft Detrick, MD 21702-5011, USA.
Anderson
A O
AO
Geisbert
T W
TW
Steele
K E
KE
Geisbert
J B
JB
Vogel
P
P
Connolly
B M
BM
Huggins
J W
JW
Jahrling
P B
PB
Jaax
N K
NK
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000648:ultrastructure / Q000821:virology; D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops / Q000821:virology*; D029043:Ebolavirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000648:ultrastructure / Q000821:virology*; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000473:pathology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000648:ultrastructure / Q000821:virology; D008168:Lung / Q000648:ultrastructure / Q000821:virology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000648:ultrastructure / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008643:Mesentery / Q000648:ultrastructure / Q000821:virology; D008992:Monkey Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000635:transmission; D014766:Viremia / Q000473:pathology
D000956:Antigens, Viral