Marbug Virus Disease: An Overview

Abstract

Marburg virus disease (MVD) is a highly fatal, but uncommon viral disease which causes viral infection accompanied by hemorrhage and fever. It is caused by Marburg virus (MARV), a zoonotic virus belonging to the family of viruses known as Filoviridae, a single stranded RNA negative-sense virus, of the Marburg marburgvirus species. Marburg virus was established to have up to 88% fatality rate. Fruit bat is thought to be the natural host for Marburg virus as well as other non-human primate such as the grivet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops), however noted that fruit bat could be the actual host for the MVD. Marburg virus has two recognized variants, Lake Victoria marburgvirus and Ravn Marburgvirus with up to 20% overall divergence. The zoonotic transmission of Marburg virus occurs through prolonged exposure to an infected host animal through bites, or contact with fluid, faeces, droplets, or blood from an infected animal host, whereas the human-to-human transmission is as result of prolonged contact with an infected person, or contact with surfaces contaminated with MARV. MVD has the incubation period of 2 - 21day period after initial exposure to the virus and is marked with abrupt and rapid manifestation of symptoms such as high fever, chills, severe headaches, malaise and myalgia, possibility of nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and sore throat, jaundice, pancreatic inflammation, extreme weight loss, disorientation, shock, liver failure, extensive bleeding, and multi-organ malfunction. MVD can be diagnosed using a variety of methods, including culture, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT- PCR), serology, and immunohistochemistry for confirmation. Since no vaccine has been approved so far for MVD, it can be prevented by avoiding contact with the suspected fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) host as well as their habitats and by avoiding handling of, and contact with sick animals, and contact with persons suspected to be infected with MVD. MVD treatment can be done with supportive therapy which includes electrolyte and fluid balancing, oxygen status and blood pressure maintenance, lost blood and clotting factors’ replacement in instances of excessive bleeding, and complicated or secondary infection treatment. This study focuses on creating more awareness on Marburg virus disease following the recent outbreak in some regions of the world.