@article{fdi:010092894,
  title = {{E}bola and {M}arburg viruses {I}g{G} detections in small ruminants and dogs from villages within outbreak areas in {G}abon},
  author = {{M}ebaley, {T}. {G}. {N}. and {B}ecquart, {P}ierre and {F}ritz, {M}. and {E}lguero, {E}ric and {M}ombo, {I}. {M}. and {G}arcia, {D}. {C}. and {K}ombila, {L}. {B}. and {L}enguiya, {L}. {H}. and {B}oundenga, {L}. and {L}eroy, {E}ric and {M}aganga, {G}. {D}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he {E}bola virus ({EBOV}) and {M}arburg virus ({MARV}) have been in circulation in {A}frica for several decades and are the cause of numerous outbreaks. {T}here has been very little research on the role of domestic animals in their transmission to humans, but studies have only been conducted in dogs and pigs where relatively high levels of {I}g{G} was detected. {T}hese levels suggest that ruminants, which have not been studied, should also be investigated. {T}his study aims at evaluating the circulation of {MARV} and {EBOV} in dogs, sheep and goats and to assess their exposure to these two viruses. {B}etween {N}ovember 2018 and {M}arch 2023, a total of 448 domestic animal sera or plasma samples, including 128 dogs, 222 goats and 98 sheep, were analyzed by serological and molecular methods. {T}he {L}uminex technique was employed for the detection of {I}g{G} antibodies against {EBOV} {NP}, {GP}, {MARV} {GP} and {VP}40, while {EBOV} specific and pan-filovirus polymerase chain reaction amplification was used for molecular analysis. {A}ll samples tested negative for {EBOV} and {MARV} {RNA}. {H}owever, our results showed that 2/128 (1.5%) dogs, 1/222 (0.4%) goats and 3/98 (3.1%) sheep displayed {NP} and {GP} anti-{EBOV} antibodies. {I}n addition, 2/128 (1.5%) dogs displayed {GP} and {VP}40 anti-{MARV} antibodies, while no antibodies were detected in goats and sheep. {O}ver all, these results suggest that dogs and small ruminants are naturally exposed to {EBOV} and {MARV}. {I}n the absence of clinically sick individuals, the presence of {I}g{G}-positive animals suggests various sources of exposure, such as contaminated fruits with the urine and saliva of bats or dead bats fallen on the ground ate by dogs. {T}hese contaminated substrates are both consumed by both dogs and small ruminants. {T}he findings provide new insights into the circulation and exposure of {EBOV} and {MARV} in domestic animals, emphasising their potential use as sentinels. {F}urthermore, they prompt significant considerations regarding the potential risk to humans in this region.},
  keywords = {{GABON}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{PL}o{S} {O}ne},
  volume = {20},
  numero = {3},
  pages = {e0314801 [12 p.]},
  ISSN = {1932-6203},
  year = {2025},
  DOI = {10.1371/journal.pone.0314801},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010092894},
}