Presented by Antoine Nkuba Ndaye

Under the direction of Martine Peeters and Steve Ahuka Mundeke

SUMMARY

The frequency of Ebola virus disease epidemics has been increasing since 2017, resulting in an increase in the number of known survivors treated with specific molecules and others not identified by response teams in a context of the emergence of new viruses such as SARS-CoV-2.

We demonstrated that people discharged after two RT-PCR tests could be Ebola patients who had presented a pauci-symptomatic form and who presented after the viremic phase.

We also demonstrated that the production of anti-Ebola antibodies in people treated with anti-Ebola molecules appears to be delayed and antibody levels decline very rapidly over time. Contrary to official reports on the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the DRC, we reported a very widespread spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Kinshasa after the first wave of the pandemic.

This work, carried out within the framework of studies on emergences, shows on the one hand the importance of serology in understanding the evolution of newly identified or previously known emerging diseases and on the other hand, the importance of continuing studies in survivors of Ebola virus disease to prevent cases of relapse which can be potential factors of emergence.

Keywords: Ebola virus, SARS-CoV-2, Antibodies, EBOV treatment, DRC.

DISCIPLINE: Microbiology, Communicable Diseases and Hygiene

LABORATORY: Epidemiological transitions, translational research applied to HIV and infectious diseases, TransVIHMI, IRD/University of Montpellier.
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