MERS-CoV in Camels but Not Camel Handlers, Sudan, 2015 and 2017

Emerg Infect Dis. 2019 Dec;25(12):2333-2335. doi: 10.3201/eid2512.190882.

Abstract

We tested samples collected from camels, camel workers, and other animals in Sudan and Qatar in 2015 and 2017 for evidence of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection. MERS-CoV antibodies were abundant in Sudan camels, but we found no evidence of MERS-CoV infection in camel workers, other livestock, or bats.

Keywords: Camelus; Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus; One Health; PCR; Qatar; S1 protein; Sudan; bats; camel handlers; camels; coronavirus; humans; live animal market; livestock; public health; serology; seropositive; veterinary medicine; viruses; zoonoses.

Publication types

  • Historical Article
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Domestic / virology
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / immunology
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology
  • Camelus / virology*
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Coronavirus Infections / history
  • Coronavirus Infections / immunology
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology*
  • History, 21st Century
  • Humans
  • Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus*
  • Neutralization Tests
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Sudan / epidemiology
  • Zoonoses / epidemiology*
  • Zoonoses / history
  • Zoonoses / virology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antibodies, Viral