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The research is from 2005 and provides no evidence of human contagion from a canine source. It suggests that there may be some possibility of that occurring, however more research was deemed necessary at that time.

So, it’s not exactly supportive of your assertions, pityar. If later research exists that does, I’m not aware of it. Transmission of Ebola to humans from other species has always been attributed to either eating an infected animal, or being bitten by it.

From your link. Interesting, although as Regulator Country points out this is from 2005 and he can’t think of any study confirming that dogs can carry the virus. I hope that there is some follow up to see if this is possible. It had occurred to me that we don’t have the same reservoir animals as Africa and that that fact would serve to limit any ebola outbreak in America to human to human transmission.

“Moreover, during the latest epidemics in Gabon and the Republic of Congo, there were many cases where dogs had eaten remains of dead animals infected with the virus, nonetheless without showing visible clinical signs. In order to confirm that these dogs had indeed come into contact with the virus, the scientists looked for the presence of specific Ebola virus antibodies in their blood (3) .

“The percentage of dogs carrying such antibodies increases linearly and significantly the closer they are found to foci of the outbreaks. From 9 % in the two large cities of Gabon, antibody prevalence goes up to 25 % in the untouched villages of the epidemic area, reaching 32 % in the villages where human cases have been attributed to an infected-animal source.

“These domestic animals could therefore become infected and excrete virus over a given period, thus becoming a potential source of infection for humans. This could explain certain as yet un-elucidated human infections. It now appears necessary to assess the role of dogs in Ebola fever outbreaks and take this risk into account in epidemic-control measures. These animals could furthermore be used as indicators of the presence of the virus in the regions where, besides the appearance of cases of both animal and human deaths, there is no external sign as to whether or not Ebola virus is present.”