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Published on: August 22, 2018
The survival of filoviruses in liquids, on solid substrates and in a dynamic aerosol
T J Piercy1, S J Smither, J A Steward
1Biomedical Sciences Department, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK.
Aims:
Filoviruses are associated with high morbidity and lethality rates in humans, are capable of human-to-human transmission, via infected material such as blood, and are believed to have low infectious doses for humans. Filoviruses are able to infect via the respiratory route and are lethal at very low doses in experimental animal models, but there is minimal information on how well the filoviruses survive within aerosol particles. There is also little known about how well filoviruses survive in liquids or on solid surfaces which is important in management of patients or samples that have been exposed to filoviruses.
Methods And Results:
Filoviruses were tested for their ability to survive in different liquids and on different solid substrates at different temperatures. The decay rates of filoviruses in a dynamic aerosol were also determined.
Conclusions:
Our study has shown that Lake Victoria marburgvirus (MARV) and Zaire ebolavirus (ZEBOV) can survive for long periods in different liquid media and can also be recovered from plastic and glass surfaces at low temperatures for over 3 weeks. The decay rates of ZEBOV and Reston ebolavirus (REBOV) plus MARV within a dynamic aerosol were calculated. ZEBOV and MARV had similar decay rates, whilst REBOV showed significantly better survival within an aerosol.
Significance And Impact Of The Study:
Data on the survival of two ebolaviruses are presented for the first time. Extended data on the survival of MARV are presented. Data from this study extend the knowledge on the survival of filoviruses under different conditions and provide a basis with which to inform risk assessments and manage exposure to filoviruses.
Insights
Filoviruses like Marburgvirus (MARV) and Ebolavirus (ZEBOV) can persist on surfaces and in liquids for extended periods. Reston ebolavirus (REBOV) demonstrated superior survival in aerosols compared to ZEBOV and MARV.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Filoviruses cause severe human illness with high mortality.
- Human transmission occurs via infected materials, with low infectious doses suspected.
- Limited data exists on filovirus survival in aerosols, liquids, and on surfaces.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the environmental survival of filoviruses.
- To determine filovirus stability in various liquid media and on solid substrates.
- To quantify filovirus decay rates in dynamic aerosols.
Main Methods:
- Filoviruses were exposed to different liquid and solid surfaces at varying temperatures.
- Survival was assessed by recovery rates.
- Aerosol survival was determined by measuring decay rates.
Main Results:
- Lake Victoria marburgvirus (MARV) and Zaire ebolavirus (ZEBOV) survived long-term in diverse liquids.
- MARV and ZEBOV were recoverable from plastic and glass surfaces for over three weeks at low temperatures.
- Reston ebolavirus (REBOV) exhibited significantly better aerosol survival than ZEBOV and MARV.
Conclusions:
- Filoviruses demonstrate remarkable environmental persistence.
- Findings provide crucial data for risk assessment and exposure management.
- This study enhances understanding of filovirus stability under various conditions.
