title: Risk Factors Associated with Ebola and Marburg Viruses Seroprevalence in Blood Donors in the Republic of Congo.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ebola and Marburg viruses (family Filoviridae, genera Ebolavirus and Marburgvirus) cause haemorrhagic fevers in humans, often associated with high mortality rates. The presence of antibodies to Ebola virus (EBOV) and Marburg virus (MARV) has been reported in some African countries in individuals without a history of haemorrhagic fever. In this study, we present a MARV and EBOV seroprevalence study conducted amongst blood donors in the Republic of Congo and the analysis of risk factors for contact with EBOV.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2011, we conducted a MARV and EBOV seroprevalence study amongst 809 blood donors recruited in rural (75; 9.3%) and urban (734; 90.7%) areas of the Republic of Congo. Serum titres of IgG antibodies to MARV and EBOV were assessed by indirect double-immunofluorescence microscopy. MARV seroprevalence was 0.5% (4 in 809) without any identified risk factors. Prevalence of IgG to EBOV was 2.5%, peaking at 4% in rural areas and in Pointe Noire. Independent risk factors identified by multivariate analysis were contact with bats and exposure to birds.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This MARV and EBOV serological survey performed in the Republic of Congo identifies a probable role for environmental determinants of exposure to EBOV. It highlights the requirement for extending our understanding of the ecological and epidemiological risk of bats (previously identified as a potential ecological reservoir) and birds as vectors of EBOV to humans, and characterising the protection potentially afforded by EBOV-specific antibodies as detected in blood donors.
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille University, IRD French Institute of Research for Development, EHESP French School of Public Health, EPV UMR_D 190 "Emergence des Pathologies Virales", Marseille, France; Centre National de Transfusion Sanguine, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo; IHU Méditerranée Infection, APHM Public Hospitals of Marseille, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Nanikaly
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Moyen
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille University, IRD French Institute of Research for Development, EHESP French School of Public Health, EPV UMR_D 190 "Emergence des Pathologies Virales", Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Thirion
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Emmerich
authors.affiliation: Centre National de Transfusion Sanguine, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Amelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dzia-Lepfoundzou
authors.affiliation: IHU Méditerranée Infection, APHM Public Hospitals of Marseille, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Richet
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille University, IRD French Institute of Research for Development, EHESP French School of Public Health, EPV UMR_D 190 "Emergence des Pathologies Virales", Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Yannik
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Boehmann
authors.affiliation: Centre National de Transfusion Sanguine, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Yannick
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dimi
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille University, IRD French Institute of Research for Development, EHESP French School of Public Health, EPV UMR_D 190 "Emergence des Pathologies Virales", Marseille, France; IHU Méditerranée Infection, APHM Public Hospitals of Marseille, Marseille, France; Etablissement Français du Sang Alpes Méditerranée, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gallian
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille University, IRD French Institute of Research for Development, EHESP French School of Public Health, EPV UMR_D 190 "Emergence des Pathologies Virales", Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Ernest A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Gould
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Günther
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille University, IRD French Institute of Research for Development, EHESP French School of Public Health, EPV UMR_D 190 "Emergence des Pathologies Virales", Marseille, France; IHU Méditerranée Infection, APHM Public Hospitals of Marseille, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: de Lamballerie
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003223:Congo / Q000453:epidemiology; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008379:Marburg Virus Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G