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. 2019 Aug 5;11(8):717.
doi: 10.3390/v11080717.

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

Ahmed Kandeil  1 , Mokhtar Gomaa  1 , Ahmed Nageh  1 , Mahmoud M Shehata  1 , Ahmed E Kayed  1 , Jamal S M Sabir  2   3 , Awatef Abiadh  4 , Jamel Jrijer  4 , Zuhair Amr  5 , Mounir Abi Said  6 , Denis K Byarugaba  7 , Fred Wabwire-Mangen  7 , Titus Tugume  7 , Nadira S Mohamed  8 , Roba Attar  9 , Sabah M Hassan  9   10   11 , Sabah Abdulaziz Linjawi  12 , Yassmin Moatassim  1 , Omnia Kutkat  1 , Sara Mahmoud  1 , Ola Bagato  1 , Noura M Abo Shama  1 , Rabeh El-Shesheny  1   13 , Ahmed Mostafa  1 , Ranawaka Apm Perera  14 , Daniel Kw Chu  14 , Nagla Hassan  15 , Basma Elsokary  15 , Ahmed Saad  16 , Heba Sobhy  16 , Ihab El Masry  17 , Pamela P McKenzie  13 , Richard J Webby  13 , Malik Peiris  14 , Yilma J Makonnen  17 , Mohamed A Ali  18   19   20 , Ghazi Kayali  21   22
Affiliations

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

Ahmed Kandeil et al. Viruses. .

Abstract

: 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.

Keywords: MERS coronavirus; epidemiology; surveillance; virus infection; virus transmission..

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Countries involved in this study. Results are indicated for each country as percentage of detected virus (RNA) and seropositive rate (Antibody) for Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Maps adapted from http://d-maps.com/index.php.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Comparison of the prevalence rate of MERS-CoV antibodies in serum (left) and RNA detection in nasal swabs (right) collected from camels in seven countries under investigation by age and sex.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Phylogenetic tree of the partial Spike gene of RBD of MERS-CoV (=701 bp). Tree was generated using MEGA6 with bootstrap method and Kimura 2-parameter model. Sequences obtained in this study are labelled with a red circle, other MERS-CoV sequences from different countries are categorized by colors.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Longitudinal study to follow up the prevalence of MERS-CoV in two herds of camels in Egypt (Matrouh and Esna) and a herd in Jordan. (A) Indicates the seropositive rate of MERS-CoV in three herds and percentage of confirmed MERS-CoV RNA by RT-PCR. (B) indicates the geometric mean of antibody titers.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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