Serologic Markers for Ebolavirus Among Healthcare Workers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Nicole A Hoff, Patrick Mukadi, Reena H Doshi, Matthew S Bramble, Kai Lu, Adva Gadoth, Cyrus Sinai, D'Andre Spencer, Bradley P Nicholson, Russell Williams, Matthias Mossoko, Benoit Ilunga-Kebela, Joseph Wasiswa, Emile Okitolonda-Wemakoy, Vivian H Alfonso, Imke Steffen, Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum, Graham Simmons, Anne W Rimoin, Nicole A Hoff, Patrick Mukadi, Reena H Doshi, Matthew S Bramble, Kai Lu, Adva Gadoth, Cyrus Sinai, D'Andre Spencer, Bradley P Nicholson, Russell Williams, Matthias Mossoko, Benoit Ilunga-Kebela, Joseph Wasiswa, Emile Okitolonda-Wemakoy, Vivian H Alfonso, Imke Steffen, Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum, Graham Simmons, Anne W Rimoin

Abstract

Healthcare settings have played a major role in propagation of Ebola virus (EBOV) outbreaks. Healthcare workers (HCWs) have elevated risk of contact with EBOV-infected patients, particularly if safety precautions are not rigorously practiced. We conducted a serosurvey to determine seroprevalence against multiple EBOV antigens among HCWs of Boende Health Zone, Democratic Republic of the Congo, the site of a 2014 EBOV outbreak. Interviews and specimens were collected from 565 consenting HCWs. Overall, 234 (41.4%) of enrolled HCWs were reactive to at least 1 EBOV protein: 159 (28.1%) were seroreactive for anti-glycoprotein immunoglobulin G (IgG), 89 (15.8%) were seroreactive for anti-nucleoprotein IgG, and 54 (9.5%) were VP40 positive. Additionally, sera from 16 (2.8%) HCWs demonstrated neutralization capacity. These data demonstrate that a significant proportion of HCWs have the ability to neutralize virus, despite never having developed Ebola virus disease symptoms, highlighting an important and poorly documented aspect of EBOV infection and progression.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Health facility locations of surveyed healthcare workers in Boende health zone, Tshuapa province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Abbreviation: HCW, healthcare worker.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Venn diagram of overlapping immunoreactivity assay measures in healthcare workers who participated in the Boende outbreak, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2014. Abbreviations: GP, glycoprotein; NP, nucleoprotein; VP40, Ebola virus matrix protein.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Immunoreactivity assay measures by contact type (inferred from occupation) for 565 healthcare workers. A, Antibody titer values measuring reactivity to Ebola virus (EBOV) glycoprotein using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). B, Antibody titers measuring reactivity to EBOV nucleoprotein using ELISA. C, Relative luciferase signal obtained after immunoprecipitating EBOV VP40-Luc using participant serum samples. D, Neutralization capacity to at least 50% of input control. Abbreviations: GP, glycoprotein; NP, nucleoprotein; RLU, Relative Luminescence Units; VP40, Ebola virus matrix protein.

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Source: PubMed

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