What do we need to know about virus and host ecology to inform sensible interventions?

The unpredictability of the introductions of emerging pathogens, such as Ebolavirus, into the human and great ape populations limits the potential for successful intervention. Insufficient understanding of the ecology of these... [ view full abstract ]

The unpredictability of the introductions of emerging pathogens, such as Ebolavirus, into the human and great ape populations limits the potential for successful intervention. Insufficient understanding of the ecology of these pathogens is the main reason for the absence of successful pre-emptive and prophylactic strategies targeted at control before or during the initial phase of the cross-species transmission.
Together with human encroachment, hunting and commercial logging, emerging infectious diseases are one of the greatest risks threatening gorilla and chimpanzee populations. Ebola virus has been associated with large outbreaks in gorillas and chimpanzees in the Republic of Congo and Gabon. During the Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa clinical trials for two Ebola virus vaccines have been initiated. With the availability of safe and efficacious prophylactic intervention strategies the potential for vaccination of endangered wildlife species becomes a possibility. However, to achieve success in predicting and controlling Ebolavirus outbreaks in great apes, increased understanding of the forces that drive outbreaks is urgently needed. Incorporation of host ecology in pathogen surveillance networks should be used to study the complex relationships between virus and host ecology.
We will discuss how data on virus-host ecology should inform and guide potential prophylactic intervention strategies.