[Antibodies against the Marburg virus among human populations in the southeastern Central African Republic]

Abstract

A serological survey was carried out in the south-east of the Central African Republic in 1979 to investigate the incidence of Marburg virus in the human population. Serum samples were tested using the indirect immunofluorescence method on infected and inactivated Vero cells (green monkey kidney) on slides prepared by the Center for Disease Control, Atlanta, U.S.A. Out of 499 samples, 7 were positive. Two of them showed a high antibody titre of 1/64. Both patients were retested 10 months later and again found positive at the same titre. These two antibody carriers had never had any haemorrhagic syndrome. This is the first evidence of non-apparent Marburg virus infection in man without any epidemic. These findings constitute a first approach towards the discovery of natural foci of this virus.