title: Detection of Ebola Virus RNA Through Aerosol Sampling of Animal Biosafety Level 4 Rooms Housing Challenged Nonhuman Primates.
abstract: Ebola virus disease is a serious illness of humans and nonhuman primates (NHPs). Direct contact has been shown to be the primary source of Ebola (EBOV) transmission. We used a high-volume air sampler to determine whether EBOV could be detected during 3 independent studies with EBOV-challenged NHPs. Viral RNA was recovered during days 9 and 10 of Study I and days 7 and 8 of Study III. Viral RNA levels were below limits of detection during all other collections. The results demonstrate that the biosafety level 4 (BSL-4) suit protects workers from aerosols in a BSL-4 environment using proper engineering and administrative controls.
authors.affiliation: United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Harbourt
authors.affiliation: United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Sara C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.affiliation: Integrated Research Facility, Ft Detrick, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pettitt
authors.affiliation: United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Travis K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.affiliation: United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Dorman
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols / Q000032:analysis; D000391:Air Microbiology; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D029043:Ebolavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D057230:Limit of Detection; D008252:Macaca fascicularis / Q000821:virology; D008253:Macaca mulatta / Q000821:virology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D012367:RNA, Viral
keywords: BSL-4; Ebola; aerosol sampling; aerosol transmission; animal model; nonhuman primate