Persistence of Ebola Virus Postmortem

In Ebola-infected macaques, viable virus was detected for 7 days and viral RNA for 10 weeks after death.

Touching bodies during mourning and funeral practices has been postulated as one route of Ebola virus (EBOV) transmission. To assess the stability of virus after death, investigators studied five cynomolgus macaques that had been used in EBOV pathogenesis studies and had been euthanized after developing EBOV disease. Two of them were infected with EBOV-Mayinga and three with a current outbreak isolate (Makona-WPGC07).

Superficial swab, blood, and tissue biopsy specimens were collected from the animals immediately following euthanasia and at several points thereafter. They were tested by culture and quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Corpses were stored in a chamber that mimicked environmental conditions in West Afr…

Reviewing Author

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

Persistence of Ebola Virus Postmortem

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Reviewing Author