Is Marburg Virus in Angola a Recombinant?

April 4, 2005

Recombinomics Commentary

April 2, 2005

Comments by WHO on the recent Marburg outbreak in Angola, cited some

historical information of Marburg that does not match the current data

from Angola. The Marburg virus is acting much more like Ebola than

with Marburg associated characteristics seen in prior outbreaks.

Although both viruses are closely related Filovirdae, they are readily

distinguishable. Initial data on the isolates from Angola indicated

that they were not Ebola. This was confirmed by sequence data showing

that the Marburg was in the samples from Angola.

However, Marburg is more frequently found in eastern Africa. The

initial Marburg isolate was from African green monkeys shipped to

Europe from Uganda. The largest Marburg outbreak prior to the current

outbreak in Angola was in adjacent Democratic Republic of Congo, but

it was in the northeast corner of the country, not far from Uganda.

It had a case fatality rate of 82%, but the rate was lower for the

smaller outbreaks.

In contrast, the largest Ebola outbreak was also in the Democratic

Republic of Congo (Zaire), but it was in the southwestern portion of

the country, not far from the current outbreak. That outbreak had the

highest case fatality rate (88%), but the outbreak in Angola, is even

higher, currently at 100%.

Thus, the size of the outbreak, as well as location and case fatality

rate all look like Ebola, yet the genetic sequence of the virus is

Marburg.

Although quality medical care can influence the fatality rate and

aggressive contract tracing and quarantine can limit the size of the

outbreak, the current Marburg in Angola looks much more like prior

large Ebola outbreaks.

These observations raise the possibility that the Marburg virus in

Angola is a recombinant and has genetically picked up some of the

traits associated with Ebola.

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