Academic Journal
Cross-sectional study of MERS-CoV-specific RNA and antibodies in animals that have had contact with MERS patients in Saudi Arabia
| Title: | Cross-sectional study of MERS-CoV-specific RNA and antibodies in animals that have had contact with MERS patients in Saudi Arabia |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Samy Kasem, Ibraheem Qasim, Ali Al-Hufofi, Osman Hashim, Ali Alkarar, Ali Abu-Obeida, Albagir Gaafer, Abdelhamid Elfadil, Ahmed Zaki, Ahmed Al-Romaihi, Nasereldeen Babekr, Nadr El-Harby, Raed Hussien, Ali AL-Sahaf, Ali Al-Doweriej, Faisal Bayoumi, Leo L.M. Poon, Daniel K.W. Chu, Malik Peiris, Ranawaka A.P.M. Perera |
| Source: | Journal of Infection and Public Health, Vol 11, Iss 3, Pp 331-338 (2018) |
| Publisher Information: | Elsevier, 2018. |
| Publication Year: | 2018 |
| Collection: | LCC:Infectious and parasitic diseases LCC:Public aspects of medicine |
| Subject Terms: | Infectious and parasitic diseases, RC109-216, Public aspects of medicine, RA1-1270 |
| More Details: | Background: Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a newly emerged coronavirus that is associated with a severe respiratory disease in humans in the Middle East. The epidemiological profiles of the MERS-CoV infections suggest zoonotic transmission from an animal reservoir to humans. Methods: This study was designed to investigate animal herds associated with Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)-infected patients in Saudi Arabia, during the last three years (2014–2016). Nasal swabs and serum samples from 584 dromedary camels, 39 sheep, 51 goats, and 2 cattle were collected. Nasal samples from camels, sheep, goats, and cattle were examined by real-time reverse-transcription PCR (RT-PCR) to detect MERS-CoV RNA, and the Anti-MERS ELISA assay was performed to detect camel humeral immune response (IgG) to MERS-CoV S1 antigen infection. The complete genome sequencing of ten MERS-CoV camel isolates and phylogenetic analysis was performed. Results: The data indicated that seventy-five dromedary camels were positive for MERS-CoV RNA; the virus was not detected in sheep, goats, and cattle. MERS-CoV RNA from infected camels was not detected beyond 2 weeks after the first positive result was detected in nasal swabs obtained from infected camels. Anti-MERS ELISA assays showed that 70.9% of camels related to human cases had antibodies to MERS-CoV. The full genome sequences of the ten MERS-CoV camel isolates were identical to their corresponding patients and were grouped together within the larger MERS-CoV sequences cluster for human and camel isolates reported form the Arabian Peninsula. Conclusions: These findings indicate that camels are a significant reservoir for the maintenance of MERS-CoVs, and they are an important source of human infection with MERS. Keywords: MERS, Dromedary camel, Real time-PCR, ELISA, Saudi Arabia |
| Document Type: | article |
| File Description: | electronic resource |
| Language: | English |
| ISSN: | 1876-0341 |
| Relation: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876034117302575; https://doaj.org/toc/1876-0341 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.jiph.2017.09.022 |
| Access URL: | https://doaj.org/article/c2746ecd6f41449887b84939d411e7a5 |
| Accession Number: | edsdoj.2746ecd6f41449887b84939d411e7a5 |
| Database: | Directory of Open Access Journals |
| ISSN: | 18760341 |
|---|---|
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.jiph.2017.09.022 |
| Published in: | Journal of Infection and Public Health |
| Language: | English |