Marburg Virus Disease in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review of Currently Available Comprehensive Genomic Data up to 2024
Marburg virus (MARV) is one of the deadliest human zoonotic pathogens, historically traced back to Uganda, in East African-cave-dwelling Egyptian fruit bats (<i>Rousettus aegyptiacus</i>), the probable cradle of MARV. Since its first identification in Germany and Serbia in 1967 due to la...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| author | Edson Kinimi |
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| author_sort | Edson Kinimi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Marburg virus (MARV) is one of the deadliest human zoonotic pathogens, historically traced back to Uganda, in East African-cave-dwelling Egyptian fruit bats (<i>Rousettus aegyptiacus</i>), the probable cradle of MARV. Since its first identification in Germany and Serbia in 1967 due to laboratory contamination, MARV has caused 18 outbreaks in humans in Sub-Saharan Africa, with the latest in Tanzania in 2025 and 2023, Rwanda in 2024, and Equatorial Guinea in 2023. Efforts to control MARV through bat extermination in Sub-Saharan Africa have been ineffective, likely due to incomplete extermination and the recolonization of infected juvenile fruit bats. Over the past two decades, extensive molecular epidemiological research has generated over 70 complete MARV genomes, enabling detailed phylogenetic analysis, though bat-derived sequences are still rare. Phylogenetic analysis of Sub-Saharan African Marburgviruses from 1975 shows clustering with sequences from humans and bats, indicating that the virus reservoir species in these regions are not considerably distinct. This review aims to consolidate MARV comprehensive genomic data to provide a clearer picture of the current Marburg virus disease situation in Sub-Saharan Africa and, in turn, highlights the need for active genomic surveillance to identify hotspots and prevent future global outbreaks. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3ee8ad7200cb459c85dcce83a29a24d7 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2813-0227 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Zoonotic Diseases |
| spelling | doaj-art-3ee8ad7200cb459c85dcce83a29a24d72025-08-20T01:49:57ZengMDPI AGZoonotic Diseases2813-02272025-03-0151610.3390/zoonoticdis5010006Marburg Virus Disease in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review of Currently Available Comprehensive Genomic Data up to 2024Edson Kinimi0Department of Veterinary Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3017, Morogoro 67125, TanzaniaMarburg virus (MARV) is one of the deadliest human zoonotic pathogens, historically traced back to Uganda, in East African-cave-dwelling Egyptian fruit bats (<i>Rousettus aegyptiacus</i>), the probable cradle of MARV. Since its first identification in Germany and Serbia in 1967 due to laboratory contamination, MARV has caused 18 outbreaks in humans in Sub-Saharan Africa, with the latest in Tanzania in 2025 and 2023, Rwanda in 2024, and Equatorial Guinea in 2023. Efforts to control MARV through bat extermination in Sub-Saharan Africa have been ineffective, likely due to incomplete extermination and the recolonization of infected juvenile fruit bats. Over the past two decades, extensive molecular epidemiological research has generated over 70 complete MARV genomes, enabling detailed phylogenetic analysis, though bat-derived sequences are still rare. Phylogenetic analysis of Sub-Saharan African Marburgviruses from 1975 shows clustering with sequences from humans and bats, indicating that the virus reservoir species in these regions are not considerably distinct. This review aims to consolidate MARV comprehensive genomic data to provide a clearer picture of the current Marburg virus disease situation in Sub-Saharan Africa and, in turn, highlights the need for active genomic surveillance to identify hotspots and prevent future global outbreaks.https://www.mdpi.com/2813-0227/5/1/6Sub-Saharan AfricaEgyptian fruit batsMarburg virusMarburg virus diseasesequencing |
| spellingShingle | Edson Kinimi Marburg Virus Disease in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review of Currently Available Comprehensive Genomic Data up to 2024 Zoonotic Diseases Sub-Saharan Africa Egyptian fruit bats Marburg virus Marburg virus disease sequencing |
| title | Marburg Virus Disease in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review of Currently Available Comprehensive Genomic Data up to 2024 |
| title_full | Marburg Virus Disease in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review of Currently Available Comprehensive Genomic Data up to 2024 |
| title_fullStr | Marburg Virus Disease in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review of Currently Available Comprehensive Genomic Data up to 2024 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Marburg Virus Disease in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review of Currently Available Comprehensive Genomic Data up to 2024 |
| title_short | Marburg Virus Disease in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review of Currently Available Comprehensive Genomic Data up to 2024 |
| title_sort | marburg virus disease in sub saharan africa a review of currently available comprehensive genomic data up to 2024 |
| topic | Sub-Saharan Africa Egyptian fruit bats Marburg virus Marburg virus disease sequencing |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2813-0227/5/1/6 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT edsonkinimi marburgvirusdiseaseinsubsaharanafricaareviewofcurrentlyavailablecomprehensivegenomicdataupto2024 |