title: Replication, pathogenicity, shedding, and transmission of Zaire ebolavirus in pigs.
abstract: (See the editorial commentary by Bausch, on pages 179-81.)
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Reston ebolavirus was recently detected in pigs in the Philippines. Specific antibodies were found in pig farmers, indicating exposure to the virus. This important observation raises the possibility that pigs may be susceptible to Ebola virus infection, including from other species, such as Zaire ebolavirus (ZEBOV), and can transmit to other susceptible hosts.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study investigated whether ZEBOV, a species commonly reemerging in central Africa, can replicate and induce disease in pigs and can be transmitted to naive animals. Domesticated Landrace pigs were challenged through mucosal exposure with a total of 1 ×10(6) plaque-forming units of ZEBOV and monitored for virus replication, shedding, and pathogenesis. Using similar conditions, virus transmission from infected to naive animals was evaluated in a second set of pigs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following mucosal exposure, pigs replicated ZEBOV to high titers (reaching 10(7) median tissue culture infective doses/mL), mainly in the respiratory tract, and developed severe lung pathology. Shedding from the oronasal mucosa was detected for up to 14 days after infection, and transmission was confirmed in all naive pigs cohabiting with inoculated animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results shed light on the susceptibility of pigs to ZEBOV infection and identify an unexpected site of virus amplification and shedding linked to transmission of infectious virus.
authors.affiliation: Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada. gary_kobinger@phac-aspc.gc.ca
authors.forename: Gary P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Kobinger
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Neufeld
authors.forename: Jason S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Darryl
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Falzarano
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tierney
authors.forename: Ami
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Hana M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Weingartl
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D029043:Ebolavirus / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000473:pathology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000821:virology; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000821:virology; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000821:virology; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology*; D014779:Virus Replication; D017201:Virus Shedding