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. 2017 Mar 16;22(11):30487.
doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2017.22.11.30487.

Cross-sectional surveillance of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in dromedary camels and other mammals in Egypt, August 2015 to January 2016

Mohamed Ali  1 , Rabeh El-Shesheny  1 , Ahmed Kandeil  1 , Mahmoud Shehata  1 , Basma Elsokary  2 , Mokhtar Gomaa  1 , Naglaa Hassan  2 , Ahmed El Sayed  1 , Ahmed El-Taweel  1 , Heba Sobhy  3 , Folorunso Oludayo Fasina  3   4 , Gwenaelle Dauphin  5 , Ihab El Masry  3 , Abebe Wossene Wolde  3 , Peter Daszak  6 , Maureen Miller  6 , Sophie VonDobschuetz  5 , Subhash Morzaria  5 , Juan Lubroth  5 , Yilma Jobre Makonnen  3
Affiliations

Cross-sectional surveillance of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in dromedary camels and other mammals in Egypt, August 2015 to January 2016

Mohamed Ali et al. Euro Surveill. .

Erratum in

  • Authors' correction for Euro Surveill. 2017;22(11).
    Eurosurveillance editorial team. Eurosurveillance editorial team. Euro Surveill. 2017 May 11;22(19):30531. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2017.22.19.30531. Euro Surveill. 2017. PMID: 28537549 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Egypt to determine the prevalence of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in imported and resident camels and bats, as well as to assess possible transmission of the virus to domestic ruminants and equines. A total of 1,031 sera, 1,078 nasal swabs, 13 rectal swabs, and 38 milk samples were collected from 1,078 camels in different types of sites. In addition, 145 domestic animals and 109 bats were sampled. Overall, of 1,031 serologically-tested camels, 871 (84.5%) had MERS-CoV neutralising antibodies. Seroprevalence was significantly higher in imported (614/692; 88.7%) than resident camels (257/339; 5.8%) (p < 0.05). Camels from Sudan (543/594; 91.4%) had a higher seroprevalence than those from East Africa (71/98; 72.4%) (p < 0.05). Sampling site and age were also associated with MERS-CoV seroprevalence (p < 0.05). All tested samples from domestic animals and bats were negative for MERS-CoV antibodies except one sheep sample which showed a 1:640 titre. Of 1,078 camels, 41 (3.8%) were positive for MERS-CoV genetic material. Sequences obtained were not found to cluster with clade A or B MERS-CoV sequences and were genetically diverse. The presence of neutralising antibodies in one sheep apparently in contact with seropositive camels calls for further studies on domestic animals in contact with camels.

Keywords: Camel, Ruminants; Egypt; Equines; MERS-CoV; bats.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Site map of the collected samples from dromedary camels and domestic animals in Egypt, August 2015–January 2016 (n =1,223 animalsa)
Figure 2
Figure 2
Phylogenic analysis of partial MERS-CoV spike sequences retrieved from dromedary camels residing in or imported to Egypt from Sudan between August 2015 and January 2016
Figure 3
Figure 3
Phylogenic analysis of a full MERS-CoV genome sequence retrieved from an imported dromedary camel from Sudan between August 2015 and January 2016
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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