Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus in dromedary camels: an outbreak investigation

Abstract

European Union projects EMPERIE (contract number 223498), ANTIGONE (contract number 278976), and the VIRGO consortium.

Geographic Distribution of MERS Coronavirus among Dromedary Camels, Africa

“…MERS-CoV genomic fragments have been detected in dromedaries in Qatar (10) and Saudi Arabia (9); near full-genome sequences have been generated from dromedaries in Egypt (5) and full-genome sequences have been generated from dromedaries in Saudi Arabia (13). Here, we show serologic evidence for circulation of MERS-CoV or MERS-like CoV in dromedaries in countries in East, West, and North Africa, with possible herd-specific differences in prevalence in Tunisia.…”

“…Since then, the presence of MERS-CoV antibodies in dromedaries has been reported in Jordan (3), Egypt (4,5), the United Arab Emirates (6,7), and Saudi Arabia (8,9). In October 2013, analysis of an outbreak associated with 1 barn in Qatar (10) found dromedaries and humans to be infected with nearly identical strains of MERS-CoV. Further proof of widespread circulation of MERS-CoV among dromedaries was provided by studies from Egypt and Saudi Arabia (5,9).…”

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) RNA and neutralising antibodies in milk collected according to local customs from dromedary camels, Qatar, April 2014

“…The first evidence of the implication of dromedary camels in transmission was the detection of high rates of MERS-CoV antibodies in dromedary camels on the Arabian Peninsula [4,5]. Evidence of infection in camels precedes the first evidence of human infection [6,7]. Recently, viral RNA has been detected in different specimens from camels and the virus has been isolated from nasal and faecal samples [6,[8][9][10][11][12].…”

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus: epidemic potential or a storm in a teacup?

“…Standard contact respiratory precautions during 2) and a small fragment of MERS-CoV sequence have been identified in a bat from KSA [34]. Recent identification of MERS-CoV in two camels in Qatar [35] lends support to the previous assumption that an animal source of the route of transmission could be either direct contact, consumption of a contaminated food product or even contact with a contaminated fomites. The KSA MoH is pursuing a vigorous search for the source of MERSCoV in animal hosts and other potential reservoirs, and their transmission routes to humans.…”

“…Whole-genome sequencing of MERS-CoV isolates from clinical samples from MERS cases diagnosed from across KSA has allowed the study of the phylogenetic relationships and evolution of the virus [20,35]. Our study of MERS-CoV genomes from KSA MERS patients show three genetically distinct lineages of MERSCoV circulating in Riyadh and it is unlikely that the KSA infections are the result of a single continuous human-to-human transmission chain.…”