Asymptomatic MERS-CoV Infection in Humans Possibly Linked to Infected Dromedaries Imported from Oman to United Arab Emirates, May 2015

Abstract

In May 2015 in United Arab Emirates, asymptomatic Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection was identified through active case finding in 2 men with exposure to infected dromedaries. Epidemiologic and virologic findings suggested zoonotic transmission. Genetic sequences for viruses from the men and camels were similar to those for viruses recently detected in other countries.

Keywords: MERS; MERS-COV; Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus; Oman; United Arab Emirates; asymptomatic infection; camels; coronavirus; dromedaries; epidemiology; humans; transmission; viruses; zoonoses.

Figure

Phylogenetic analyses of partial Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) genomic sequences for viruses detected in dromedaries imported from Oman to United Arab Emirates, May 2015. A partial viral RNA sequence spanning the 3′ end of the open reading frame 1AB gene through the 3′ untranslated region of the MERS-CoV genome (≈8,900 nt) was used in the analysis. The phylogenetic tree was constructed with MEGA6 software (http://www.megasoftware.net/) by using the neighbor-joining method. Numbers at nodes indicate bootstrap values determined by 1,000 replicates. Only bootstrap values >70 are denoted. Underlining indicates sequences for viruses detected in this study. GenBank accession numbers are shown for published sequences. Symbols indicate MERS-CoVs detected from dromedaries s. Scale bar indicates the estimated genetic distance of these viruses.