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Reston Ebolavirus (RESTV) – Facts and Overview

Reston ebolavirus (RESTV) is one of five known ebolavirus species and the only one not known to cause severe disease in humans.

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Things worth knowing about "Reston ebolavirus"

Reston ebolavirus (RESTV) is one of five known ebolavirus species and the only one not known to cause severe disease in humans.

What is Reston Ebolavirus?

Reston ebolavirus (RESTV) belongs to the genus Ebolavirus within the family Filoviridae. It was first identified in 1989 in Reston, Virginia, USA, after imported crab-eating macaques from the Philippines died of a mysterious hemorrhagic illness at a quarantine facility. Unlike the other ebolavirus species, RESTV has not been shown to cause clinical disease in humans, despite confirmed serological exposure in several individuals.

Classification and Related Species

Five species are currently recognized within the genus Ebolavirus:

Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV) – responsible for the most severe outbreaks with high fatality rates
Sudan ebolavirus (SUDV)
Tai Forest ebolavirus (TAFV)
Bundibugyo ebolavirus (BDBV)
Reston ebolavirus (RESTV) – the only species not known to be pathogenic in humans

RESTV is genetically distinct from the other species, which may partly explain its lack of pathogenicity in humans.

Discovery and History

In 1989, crab-eating macaques (Macaca fascicularis) imported from the Philippines to a research facility in Reston, Virginia, began dying in large numbers. Scientists from the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) isolated a filovirus closely resembling Zaire ebolavirus. Several facility workers tested seropositive for the virus but did not develop any symptoms. Later outbreaks in domestic pigs in the Philippines (2008) and China confirmed that RESTV can also infect suids (pigs).

Reservoir and Transmission

As with other ebolaviruses, fruit bats are suspected to be the natural reservoir of RESTV, though this has not been definitively confirmed. Known or suspected transmission routes include:

Direct contact with infected animal tissue or bodily fluids
Possible aerosol transmission among animals (demonstrated in laboratory settings)
Zoonotic transmission from animals to humans

Human-to-human transmission of RESTV has not been documented to date.

Pathogenicity in Humans

Although several individuals have tested seropositive for RESTV antibodies – indicating prior infection – none developed symptoms consistent with Ebola virus disease. The reasons for the apparent lack of human pathogenicity are still under investigation. Current hypotheses include:

Structural differences in viral proteins, particularly the glycoprotein (GP)
Reduced ability to suppress the human immune response
Different receptor-binding properties compared to pathogenic ebolaviruses

Importantly, the absence of documented disease does not mean RESTV poses no risk. Like all RNA viruses, it has the potential to mutate, and ongoing surveillance remains essential.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of RESTV infection mirrors that of other ebolaviruses:

PCR (polymerase chain reaction): Direct detection of viral genetic material
Serology (ELISA): Detection of RESTV-specific antibodies
Virus isolation: Only possible in Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) laboratories

Prevention and Public Health

Because RESTV can circulate in animal populations, particularly non-human primates and pigs, the following measures are important:

Strict biosafety protocols for imported non-human primates
Veterinary surveillance of pig populations in endemic regions
Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling potentially infected animals
Mandatory reporting of suspected ebolavirus infections in accordance with national public health regulations

References

World Health Organization (WHO): Ebola virus disease – Fact Sheet. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ebola-virus-disease
Feldmann H, Geisbert TW. Ebola haemorrhagic fever. Lancet. 2011;377(9768):849-862. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(10)60667-8
Jahrling PB et al. Preliminary report: isolation of Ebola virus from monkeys imported to USA. Lancet. 1990;335(8688):502-505.

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