Printer Friendly
The Free Library
14,537,783 articles and books
Member login
User name  
Password 
 
Join us Forgot password?

Ebola and Marburg Viruses: a View of Infection Using Electron Microscopy.


Elena I. Ryabchikova and Barbara B.S. Price

Batelle Press, Columbus, Ohio ISBN ISBN
abbr.
International Standard Book Number


ISBN International Standard Book Number

ISBN n abbr (= International Standard Book Number) → ISBN m 
: 1-57477.131-0 Pages: 211, including index Price: US $56.00

More than 25 years have passed since the discovery of a filovirus Filovirus /Fi·lo·vi·rus/ (fi´lo-vi?rus) Marburg and Ebola viruses: a genus of viruses of the family Filoviridae that cause hemorrhagic fevers (Marburg virus disease, Ebola virus disease). , Marburg virus Marburg virus: see hemorrhagic fever. , which caused an epidemic of hemorrhagic fever among laboratory workers in Marburg, Germany, in 1967. The persons affected had contact with the blood or tissues of monkeys or with other infected persons. Marburg virus has reappeared only three times since its discovery, with the largest and most recent outbreak occurring in 1999 in Durba, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Ebola virus, another filovirus, was first described in 1976 during two hemorrhagic fever epidemics in Zaire and Sudan. Since then, Ebola virus has caused large hospital outbreaks of hemorrhagic fever in Kikwit, Zaire, in 1995, and Gulu, Uganda, in 2000. Ebola virus has also been implicated im·pli·cate  
tr.v. im·pli·cat·ed, im·pli·cat·ing, im·pli·cates
1. To involve or connect intimately or incriminatingly: evidence that implicates others in the plot.

2.
 in small chains of transmission among persons with direct contact with intermediary hosts, mostly nonhuman primates in the central African countries of Gabon and Republic of the Congo.

The reservoirs for both viruses are still unknown, and the rarity of outbreaks and the remote location of human outbreaks make it difficult, if not impossible, to study the pathogenesis of the human disease. Thus, animal models have been the best, and often only, approach available for studying the progression of disease caused by Marburg and Ebola viruses. Dr. Ryabchikova, the principal author of this book, and her laboratory group have studied the pathogenesis of filoviruses for several decades by using animal models and electron microscopy, a unique approach that has made her one of the few filovirus experts in the world. This book is a compilation not only of her work but of all the information available on Marburg and Ebola viruses.

The first three chapters of the book provide a general review of filovirus history, laboratory methods (with an emphasis on electron microscopy), viral structure, morphology, and replication. Chapters 4 and 5 provide more specific details on infection of the target cells (macrophages Macrophages
White blood cells whose job is to destroy invading microorganisms. Listeria monocytogenes avoids being killed and can multiply within the macrophage.
 and reticulo-endothelial system) in different organs and during the course of filoviral infection. In chapter 6, the authors deal with the "hemorrhagic Hemorrhagic
A condition resulting in massive, difficult-to-control bleeding.

Mentioned in: Hantavirus Infections


hemorrhagic

pertaining to or characterized by hemorrhage.
" side of Ebola and Marburg virus infection. Not all patients infected with these viruses bleed, and when bleeding disorders do occur, no correlated infection of endothelial endothelial /en·do·the·li·al/ (-the´le-al) pertaining to or made up of endothelium.
Endothelial
A layer of cells that lines the inside of certain body cavities, for example, blood vessels.
 and hematopoietic cells occurs. Dr. Ryabchikova has found that changes in the microcirculation microcirculation /mi·cro·cir·cu·la·tion/ (-sir?ku-la´shun) the flow of blood through the fine vessels (arterioles, capillaries, and venules).microcirculato´ry

mi·cro·cir·cu·la·tion
n.
 system, such as the appearance of hemorrhages, clotting, and fibrin fibrin: see blood clotting.  deposits, vary by virus and by animal species. Chapter 7, which describes pathologic changes in the organs during the course of filoviral infection, could have been combined with chapter 5. Likewise, the last chapter, which covers immunopathology, appears more like a discussion of the previous chapters.

Much of the data have already been published in the Russian or Western literature. However, this book provides one source for all information available on Marburg and Ebola viruses and has a great advantage over other sources. The number and the quality of the illustrations are impressive, and a comprehensive index is provided. The book will prove useful to clinicians and researchers interested in understanding the pathogenesis of hemorrhagic fevers, and it will provide researchers working with other viruses a lesson in the benefits of using electron microscopy technology.

Pierre Rollin, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), agency of the U.S. Public Health Service since 1973, with headquarters in Atlanta; it was established in 1946 as the Communicable Disease Center. , Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Address for correspondence: Pierre Rollin, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Mailstop G14, Atlanta, GA, USA; fax: 404-639-1118; email: PRollin@ cdc.gov
COPYRIGHT 2004 U.S. National Center for Infectious Diseases
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 2004, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

 Reader Opinion

Title:

Comment:



 

Article Details
Printer friendly Cite/link Email Feedback
Author:Rollin. Pierre
Publication:Emerging Infectious Diseases
Article Type:Book Review
Date:Aug 1, 2004
Words:577
Previous Article:SARS outbreak in Taiwan.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
Next Article:North American birds and West Nile virus.(About The Cover)
Topics:



Related Articles
The Hot Zone.
Virus Ground Zero: Stalking the Killer Viruses with the Centers for Disease Control.
Killers Without Cures.(lethal viruses)
Evaluation in nonhuman primates of vaccines against Ebola virus. (Perspectives).
Ecologic and geographic distribution of filovirus disease.(Research)
Potential mammalian filovirus reservoirs.(Synopsis)
Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers, Perspectives in Medical Virology, Volume 11.(Book Review)
Vaccines against Marburg and Ebola viruses advance.(IMMUNOLOGY)(Brief Article)
Molecular Pathogenesis of Virus Infections.(Book Review)
Biological Weapons Defense: Infectious Diseases and Counterbioterrorism.(Book review)

Terms of use | Copyright © 2009 Farlex, Inc. | Feedback | For webmasters | Submit articles