Bactrian camels shed large quantities of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) after experimental infection
Open Access
- 1 January 2019
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Informa UK Limited in Emerging Microbes & Infections
- Vol. 8 (1), 717-723
- https://doi.org/10.1080/22221751.2019.1618687
Abstract
In 2012, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) emerged. To date, more than 2300 cases have been reported, with an approximate case fatality rate of 35%. Epidemiological investigations identified dromedary camels as the source of MERS-CoV zoonotic transmission and evidence of MERS-CoV circulation has been observed throughout the original range of distribution. Other new-world camelids, alpacas and llamas, are also susceptible to MERS-CoV infection. Currently, it is unknown whether Bactrian camels are susceptible to infection. The distribution of Bactrian camels overlaps partly with that of the dromedary camel in west and central Asia. The receptor for MERS-CoV, DPP4, of the Bactrian camel was 98.3% identical to the dromedary camel DPP4, and 100% identical for the 14 residues which interact with the MERS-CoV spike receptor. Upon intranasal inoculation with 107 plaque-forming units of MERS-CoV, animals developed a transient, primarily upper respiratory tract infection. Clinical signs of the MERS-CoV infection were benign, but shedding of large quantities of MERS-CoV from the URT was observed. These data are similar to infections reported with dromedary camel infections and indicate that Bactrians are susceptible to MERS-CoV and given their overlapping range are at risk of introduction and establishment of MERS-CoV within the Bactrian camel populations.Keywords
This publication has 24 references indexed in Scilit:
- Reported Direct and Indirect Contact with Dromedary Camels among Laboratory-Confirmed MERS-CoV CasesViruses, 2018
- SARS and MERS: recent insights into emerging coronavirusesNature Reviews Microbiology, 2016
- Replication and Shedding of MERS-CoV in Upper Respiratory Tract of Inoculated Dromedary CamelsEmerging Infectious Diseases, 2014
- MERS Coronavirus Neutralizing Antibodies in Camels, Eastern Africa, 1983–1997Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2014
- MERS Coronavirus in Dromedary Camel Herd, Saudi ArabiaEmerging Infectious Diseases, 2014
- Evidence for Camel-to-Human Transmission of MERS CoronavirusNew England Journal of Medicine, 2014
- Human Infection with MERS Coronavirus after Exposure to Infected Camels, Saudi Arabia, 2013Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2014
- Antibodies against MERS Coronavirus in Dromedary Camels, United Arab Emirates, 2003 and 2013Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2014
- Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus in dromedary camels: an outbreak investigationThe Lancet Infectious Diseases, 2013
- Isolation of a Novel Coronavirus from a Man with Pneumonia in Saudi ArabiaNew England Journal of Medicine, 2012