Marburg Virus- A Threat During SARS-CoV-2 Era: A Review

Sumel Ashique1, Vatan Chaudhary1, Soumen Pal2

  • 1Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Bharat Institute of Technology (BIT), Meerut, UP, India.

Insights

Marburg virus causes severe hemorrhagic fever in humans and primates, originating from infected monkeys. Transmission occurs through bodily fluids, with supportive care and diagnostic tests like ELISA and RT-PCR used for management.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Marburg virus (MARV), a filovirus, was first identified in 1967 in Marburg and Frankfurt, Germany, and Belgrade, Serbia.
  • Initial outbreaks were linked to imported infected grivet monkeys from Uganda, leading to its nickname 'vervet monkey disease'.
  • MARV is known to cause severe Marburg hemorrhagic fever (MHF) in humans and non-human primates, with human endothelial cells being a primary replication site.

Approach:

  • This abstract details the discovery, transmission, clinical manifestations, diagnostic methods, and laboratory safety precautions for Marburg virus.
  • Replication primarily occurs in human endothelial cells.
  • Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) were identified as a potential reservoir in 2009.

Key Points:

  • Transmission routes include direct contact with infected body fluids, unprotected sexual contact, and exposure through broken or injured skin.
  • Symptoms manifest after an incubation period and include chills, headaches, myalgia, and abdominal pain.
  • No specific antiviral treatment exists; management focuses on supportive care, including hydration and oxygenation.

Conclusions:

  • Diagnosis is confirmed through various laboratory techniques such as antibody-capture ELISA, antigen-capture ELISA, serum neutralization tests, RT-PCR assays, electron microscopy, and virus isolation.
  • Due to its high pathogenicity and risk group 4 (RG-4) status, strict biosafety precautions are mandatory for laboratory personnel handling MARV.

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