Author : Sokom Kong

Summary : Reston ebolavirus was first described as a new "strain" of Ebola virus (EBOV) in
1989 with reported cases in cynomolgus macaques exported from primate facilities in the
Philippines. In 2008, pig samples were detected to have eo-infection of REBOV with
PRRS and PCV2 viruses. In these reports, the Philippines was described to be the origin
of REBOV. Humans were found to develop antibodies to REBOV virus, with no report
of clinical illness. To determine the occurrence of REBOV among pigs raised and
slaughtered in Laguna province 384 blood samples were collected from randomly
selected ten (43.5%) of the total 23 slaughterhouses in Laguna province. RNA extracted
from the sera of these blood samples was subjected to real-time RT-PCR test to detect
and profile the occurrence of Reston ebolavirus. Blood samples came from pigs from
different farms in Laguna. The Sta. Cruz slaughterhouse had the highest number of pigs
tested, 107 (27.86%), among the total 384 tested samples, while the lowest number of
samples 4 (1.04%), were from San Pablo slaughterhouse. Females had a slightly higher
number, 194 (50.52%) compared to males 190 (49.48%). Blood samples came from pigs
from commercial farms registering the highest at 242 (63.02%) whereas 142 (36.98%)
samples came from small-hold farms. By age, 373 (97.14%) young animals aged less
than 20 months. There were 6 (1.56%) animals aged 41 - 60 months, and only 5 (1.30%)
pigs aged 21 - 40 months.

No Reston ebolavirus was found in all samples tested indicating no occurrence of
Reston ebolavirus in swine raised and slaughtered in Laguna. The study highly
recommends the use of viral RNA extraction kit together with Real-time RT- PCR kit for
the detection of the said virus. It is likewise suggested that Real-time RT-PCR be used
for the detection of Reston ebolavirus in swine.