• Question: Where do filoviruses come from? @swbgs

    Asked by Thomas B to Ceri, Marikka, Matt, Rob, Sally on 10 Nov 2014.
    • Photo: Sally Cutler

      Sally Cutler answered on 10 Nov 2014:

      Hi Thomas,
      The filoviruses are a whole genus group of related viruses containing several species. They are known as zoonoses – infections acquired from animals. This means they probably have a natural reservoir host, but can infect other species such as primates and humans. The probable host reservoir species is bats, but there is not very much evidence yet. Humans get infected usually from hunting primates that are already infected and thus easier to catch. When these primates are being butchered the infection can pass into humans. Hope this helps.

    • Photo: Robert Hampson

      Robert Hampson answered on 10 Nov 2014:

      It depends what you mean when you say where do they come from?

      Filoviruses are a whole group of viruses including the Ebola virus and the Marburg virus. Both of these probably evolved from a common ancestor about 800 years ago. These kind of viruses often infect bats, pigs and primates (monkeys/apes). In Africa many people hunt, kill and eat bats and primates (known as bushmeat) and so they can catch these viruses from their food. In their natural host, the viruses are much less dangerous as it is advantageous to keep their host alive so that the virus can spread further. In humans, generally the virus doesn’t pass easily from person to person, however, because the virus mutates so quickly, there is a chance that it could adapt and become a more effective virus in humans…

    • Photo: Ceri Dare

      Ceri Dare answered on 10 Nov 2014:

      Sally and Robert have given you good answers already – usually humans catch them off bats, by going to places where the bats live, or by eating the bats, or chimps which have eaten the bats.

    • Photo: Marikka Beecroft

      Marikka Beecroft answered on 12 Nov 2014:

      Filovirsues typically have a “reservoir” or a natural host that it lives in but doesn’t hurt. In filoviruses these hosts tend to be bats, it’s important to note that it’s not strictly known how they transmit from bats to humans and that Sally and Robs explanations are what is believed to happen but not scientifically proven yet. Have a look at the link below it explains a lot and is a brilliant page!
      http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/virus-families/filoviridae.html

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