scholarly journals Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Dromedary Camels in Africa and Middle East

Viruses ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 717 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kandeil ◽  
Gomaa ◽  
Nageh ◽  
Shehata ◽  
Kayed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Middle East ◽  
Longitudinal Studies ◽  
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
East African ◽  
Dromedary Camels ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Nasal Swabs ◽  
Clade C

: Dromedary camels are the natural reservoirs of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Camels are mostly bred in East African countries then exported into Africa and Middle East for consumption. To understand the distribution of MERS-CoV among camels in North Africa and the Middle East, we conducted surveillance in Egypt, Senegal, Tunisia, Uganda, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. We also performed longitudinal studies of three camel herds in Egypt and Jordan to elucidate MERS-CoV infection and transmission. Between 2016 and 2018, a total of 4027 nasal swabs and 3267 serum samples were collected from all countries. Real- time PCR revealed that MERS-CoV RNA was detected in nasal swab samples from Egypt, Senegal, Tunisia, and Saudi Arabia. Microneutralization assay showed that antibodies were detected in all countries. Positive PCR samples were partially sequenced, and a phylogenetic tree was built. The tree suggested that all sequences are of clade C and sequences from camels in Egypt formed a separate group from previously published sequences. Longitudinal studies showed high seroprevalence in adult camels. These results indicate the widespread distribution of the virus in camels. A systematic active surveillance and longitudinal studies for MERS-CoV are needed to understand the epidemiology of the disease and dynamics of viral infection.

scholarly journals Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in dromedary camels in Nigeria, 2015

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (49) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel KW Chu ◽  
Jamiu O Oladipo ◽  
Ranawaka APM Perera ◽  
Sulaiman A Kuranga ◽  
Samuel MS Chan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Arabian Peninsula ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Dromedary Camels ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Nasal Swabs ◽  
Polymerase Chain

Evidence of current and past Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection in dromedary camels slaughtered at an abattoir in Kano, Nigeria in January 2015, was sought by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and serology. MERS-CoV RNA was detected in 14 (11%) of 132 nasal swabs and antibody in 126 (96%) of 131 serum samples. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrate that the viruses in Nigeria are genetically distinct from those reported in the Arabian peninsula.

scholarly journals Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Quasispecies That Include Homologues of Human Isolates Revealed through Whole-Genome Analysis and Virus Cultured from Dromedary Camels in Saudi Arabia

mBio ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Briese ◽  
Nischay Mishra ◽  
Komal Jain ◽  
Iyad S. Zalmout ◽  
Omar J. Jabado ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Middle East ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Interspecies Transmission ◽  
Whole Genome ◽  
Genome Sequences ◽  
Dromedary Camels ◽  
Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia ◽  
Nasal Swabs

ABSTRACTComplete Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) genome sequences were obtained from nasal swabs of dromedary camels sampled in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through direct analysis of nucleic acid extracts or following virus isolation in cell culture. Consensus dromedary MERS-CoV genome sequences were the same with either template source and identical to published human MERS-CoV sequences. However, in contrast to individual human cases, where only clonal genomic sequences are reported, detailed population analyses revealed the presence of more than one genomic variant in individual dromedaries. If humans are truly infected only with clonal virus populations, we must entertain a model for interspecies transmission of MERS-CoV wherein only specific genotypes are capable of passing bottleneck selection.IMPORTANCEIn most cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), the route for human infection with the causative agent, MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV), is unknown. Antibodies to and viral nucleic acids of MERS-CoV have been found in dromedaries, suggesting the possibility that they may serve as a reservoir or vector for human infection. However, neither whole viral genomic sequence nor infectious virus has been isolated from dromedaries or other animals in Saudi Arabia. Here, we report recovery of MERS-CoV from nasal swabs of dromedaries, demonstrate that MERS-CoV whole-genome consensus sequences from dromedaries and humans are indistinguishable, and show that dromedaries can be simultaneously infected with more than one MERS-CoV. Together with data indicating widespread dromedary infection in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, these findings support the plausibility of a role for dromedaries in human infection.

scholarly journals Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infection in Dromedary Camels in Saudi Arabia

mBio ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdulaziz N. Alagaili ◽  
Thomas Briese ◽  
Nischay Mishra ◽  
Vishal Kapoor ◽  
Stephen C. Sameroff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Middle East ◽  
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Dromedary Camels ◽  
Coronavirus Infection

scholarly journals Lack of serological evidence of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection in virus exposed camel abattoir workers in Nigeria, 2016

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (32) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ray TY So ◽  
Ranawaka APM Perera ◽  
Jamiu O Oladipo ◽  
Daniel KW Chu ◽  
Sulyman A Kuranga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Zoonotic Infection ◽  
Dromedary Camels ◽  
Rna Detection ◽  
Nasal Swabs ◽  
Coronavirus Infection ◽  
Abattoir Workers

Background Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a zoonotic threat of global public health concern and dromedary camels are the source of zoonotic infection. Although MERS-CoV is enzootic in dromedaries in Africa as well as the Middle East, zoonotic disease has not been reported in Africa. Methods: In an abattoir in Kano, Nigeria, we tested nasal swabs from camels and investigated 261 humans with repeated occupational exposure to camels, many of whom also reported drinking fresh camel milk (n = 138) or urine (n = 94) or using camel urine for medicinal purposes (n = 96). Results: Weekly MERS-CoV RNA detection in January–February 2016 ranged from 0–8.4% of camels sampled. None of the abattoir workers with exposure to camels had evidence of neutralising antibody to MERS-CoV. Conclusion: There is a need for more studies to investigate whether or not zoonotic transmission of MERS-CoV does take place in Africa.

scholarly journals Investigation of MERS-CoV seropositivity among Umrah visitors from the Çorum Region of Turkey

2021 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 608-612
Author(s):  
Ayşe Semra GÜRESER ◽  
Derya YAPAR ◽  
Özlem AKDOĞAN ◽  
Ayşegül TAYLAN ÖZKAN ◽  
Nurcan BAYKAM
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Middle East ◽  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Training And Research ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Positive Results

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) causes Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). Since the vast majority of cases (more than 85%) are reported from Saudi Arabia, there is a pandemic potential for pilgrimage due to Hajj or Umrah. It is reported from Turkey that more than 400 thousand people went to Saudi Arabia for umrah and 61 thousand people for Hajj in 2014. In this study it is aimed to investigate the patients who had just returned from Makkah for Umrah and who also applied to the Infectious Disease Clinics at the Hitit University Erol Olcok Training and Research Hospital for having respiratory tract symptoms. Their serologic situations have been determined by ELISA whether there is any risk in terms of performing the Hajj and Umrah, and contracting MERS-CoV. Between January 1st to the 31st of October 2015, 40 people were included in this study, which were admitted to our hospital with upper respiratory tract complaints and had previously been in Saudi Arabia for Umrah within the last 15 days. As a control group, 40 healthy people without any complaints and travel histories to risky areas were selected. Their serum samples were taken and searched by MERS-CoV IgG ELISA (Euroimmun AG, Lübeck, Germany). The results ≤0.8 were considered as negative, ≥1.1 were as positive, 0.8-1.1 were suspected. All suspected and positive results have been revaluated and confirmed. Only two (5%) individuals from the patients’ group were found as positive for the MERS-CoV IgG antibodies, but individuals from the remaining patients’ group and also all control group members were determined as negative. Travels to Saudi Arabia could be a risk for exposure to MERS-CoV. Although there is no evidence, contamination could be realized by anthropologically due to crowds.

scholarly journals Modeling the spread of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus in Saudi Arabia

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (7) ◽  
pp. 1968-1978 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qianying Lin ◽  
Alice PY Chiu ◽  
Shi Zhao ◽  
Daihai He
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Middle East ◽  
Transmission Rate ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Time Varying ◽  
Dromedary Camels ◽  
Primary Host ◽  
East Region ◽  
And Control

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus has been persistent in the Middle East region since 2012. Abundant scientific evidence showed that dromedary camels are the primary host of the virus. Majority of human cases (i.e., 75% or 88%) are due to human-to-human transmission, while the others are due to camel-to-human transmission. Mathematical modeling of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus camel-to-camel transmission was lacking. Using the plug-and-play likelihood-based inference framework, we fitted a susceptible-exposed-infectious-recovered-susceptible model of camels to the reported human cases with a constant proportion of human cases from camels (i.e., either 25% or 12%). We considered two scenarios: (i) the transmission rate among camels is time-varying with a constant spill-over rate from camels to human or (ii) the spill-over rate is time-varying with a constant transmission rate among camels. Our estimated loss-of-immunity rate and prevalence of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infections among camels largely matched with previous serological or virological studies, shedding light on this issue. We recommended including dromedary camels in animal surveillance and control of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus in Saudi Arabia which could help reduce their sporadic introductions to humans.

scholarly journals A53 MERS-CoV in East African dromedary camels

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ziqi Zhou ◽  
Daniel K W Chu ◽  
Abraham Ali ◽  
Getnet F Demissié ◽  
Malik Peiris
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
East Africa ◽  
Arabian Peninsula ◽  
Neutralization Assay ◽  
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Full Genome ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
East African ◽  
Dromedary Camels ◽  
Generation Sequencing

Abstract Human Middle East respiratory syndrome is a zoonotic respiratory disease caused by Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) originating from camels in the Arabian Peninsula. While there are a large number of camels in East Africa, often traded to the Arabian Peninsula, no autochthonous human MERS-CoV case is reported in East Africa. Furthermore, there is limited information of MERS-CoV in East Africa. In this study, MERS-CoV in dromedary camels from Ethiopia was detected using RT-qPCR. Next-generation sequencing was used to obtain the full genome of MERS-CoV. MERS-CoV antibodies were also detected through MERS-spike pseudoparticle neutralization assay. Phylogenetic analysis of full-genome sequences and spike-genome antibodies indicates that MERS-CoV in East Africa is genetically distinct from those in the Arabian Peninsula. The results from this study show that MERS-CoV circulating in dromedary camels in East Africa are genetically distinct from those in the Arabian Peninsula. Further studies are needed to evaluate the risk of zoonotic transmission in East Africa.

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