RESUMO
Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) cases continue to be reported, predominantly in Saudi Arabia and occasionally other countries. Although dromedaries are the main reservoir, other animal species might be susceptible to MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection and potentially serve as reservoirs. To determine whether other animals are potential reservoirs, we inoculated MERS-CoV into llamas, pigs, sheep, and horses and collected nasal and rectal swab samples at various times. The presence of MERS-CoV in the nose of pigs and llamas was confirmed by PCR, titration of infectious virus, immunohistochemistry, and in situ hybridization; seroconversion was detected in animals of both species. Conversely, in sheep and horses, virus-specific antibodies did not develop and no evidence of viral replication in the upper respiratory tract was found. These results prove the susceptibility of llamas and pigs to MERS-CoV infection. Thus, the possibility of MERS-CoV circulation in animals other than dromedaries, such as llamas and pigs, is not negligible.
Assuntos
Doenças dos Animais/epidemiologia , Infecções por Coronavirus/veterinária , Suscetibilidade a Doenças , Gado/virologia , Coronavírus da Síndrome Respiratória do Oriente Médio , Doenças dos Animais/diagnóstico , Doenças dos Animais/virologia , Animais , Chlorocebus aethiops , Reservatórios de Doenças , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Cavalos , Imunidade Humoral , Coronavírus da Síndrome Respiratória do Oriente Médio/fisiologia , Testes de Neutralização , Vigilância em Saúde Pública , RNA Viral , Ovinos , Suínos , Células VeroRESUMO
We determined the presence of neutralizing antibodies to Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus in persons in Qatar with and without dromedary contact. Antibodies were only detected in those with contact, suggesting dromedary exposure as a risk factor for infection. Findings also showed evidence for substantial underestimation of the infection in populations at risk in Qatar.
Assuntos
Camelus/virologia , Infecções por Coronavirus/epidemiologia , Coronavírus da Síndrome Respiratória do Oriente Médio/patogenicidade , Exposição Ocupacional/estatística & dados numéricos , Zoonoses/epidemiologia , Animais , Anticorpos Antivirais/sangue , Camelus/imunologia , Humanos , Exposição Ocupacional/efeitos adversos , Catar/epidemiologia , RiscoRESUMO
Thus far, no human MERS-CoV infections have been reported from Israel. Evidence for the circulation of MERS-CoV in dromedaries has been reported from almost all the countries of the Middle East, except Israel. Therefore, we aimed to analyze MERS-CoV infection in Israeli camelids, sampled between 2012 and 2017. A total of 411 camels, 102 alpacas and 19 llamas' sera were tested for the presence of antibodies to MERS-CoV. Our findings indicate a lower MERS-CoV seropositivity among Israeli dromedaries than in the surrounding countries, and for the first time naturally infected llamas were identified. In addition, nasal swabs of 661 camels, alpacas and lamas, obtained from January 2015 to December 2017, were tested for the presence of MERS-CoV RNA. All nasal swabs were negative, indicating no evidence for MERS-CoV active circulation in these camelids during that time period.