Virus
Marburg virus
Filovirus, cave/mine bat exposure, VHF
MAR-berg VY-rus
High-yield clue
Filovirus sister to Ebola; classically tied to Rousettus fruit-bat exposure in caves and mines.
Overview
A negative-sense single-stranded RNA filovirus (genus Orthomarburgvirus) closely related to Ebola, studied as a hemorrhagic-fever agent linked to Rousettus fruit bats in caves and mines.
Classification
- Filoviridae
- Genus Orthomarburgvirus
- Negative-sense ssRNA
- Enveloped
- Filamentous virion
Lab & identification clues
- Filamentous filovirus morphology vocabulary
- Viral hemorrhagic fever framing
- Cave/mine exposure epidemiology concept
Associations
- Rousettus (Egyptian fruit bat) reservoir
- Cave and mine exposure epidemiology
- Human-to-human body-fluid transmission
- Viral hemorrhagic fever presentation vocabulary
Commonly confused with
- Ebola virus
- Lassa virus
Frequently asked questions
What is Marburg virus?
A negative-sense single-stranded RNA filovirus (genus Orthomarburgvirus) closely related to Ebola, studied as a hemorrhagic-fever agent linked to Rousettus fruit bats in caves and mines.
What are the lab clues for Marburg virus?
Lab clues for Marburg virus include Filamentous filovirus morphology vocabulary, Viral hemorrhagic fever framing, and Cave/mine exposure epidemiology concept.
What is Marburg virus commonly confused with?
Marburg virus is commonly confused with Ebola virus and Lassa virus.
Original student-study summary. Sources checked: OpenStax Microbiology 2e, NCBI Bookshelf Medical Microbiology, and CDC topic pages where applicable; reviewed 2026-06. Educational only; no diagnosis, treatment, dosing, or specimen-handling guidance.