1
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McNabb L, Durr PA, Lunt R, Barr J, Adams TE, Pearce L, Poon LLM, Perera RAM, Demissie GF, Bowden TR. Development and preliminary validation of a MERS-CoV ELISA for serological testing of camels and alpacas. J Virol Methods 2024; 327:114923. [PMID: 38561124 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2024.114923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
This study describes the development and preliminary validation of a new serological assay using MERS-CoV S1 protein in an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) format. This assay has the advantage of being able to test MERS-CoV serum samples in a PC2 laboratory without the need for a high-level biocontainment laboratory (PC3 or PC4), which requires highly trained and skilled staff and a high level of resources and equipment. Furthermore, this MERS-CoV S1 ELISA enables a larger number of samples to be tested quickly, with results obtained in approximately five hours. The MERS-CoV S1 ELISA demonstrated high analytical specificity, with no cross-reactivity observed in serum of animals infected with other viruses, including different coronaviruses. We tested 166 positive and 40 negative camel serum samples and have estimated the diagnostic sensitivity (DSe) to be 99.4% (95% CI: 96.7 - 100.0%) and diagnostic specificity (DSp) to be 100% (95% CI: 97.2%-100.0%) relative to the assigned serology results (ppNT and VNT) using a S/P ratio cut-off value of >0.58. The findings of this study showed that our MERS-CoV S1 ELISA was more sensitive than the commercial EUROIMMUN ELISA (Se 99.4% vs 84.9%) and comparable to the ppNT assay, and therefore could be used as a diagnostic aid in countries in the Middle East where MERS-CoV is endemic in dromedary camels. The assay reagents and protocol were easily adapted and transferred from an Australian laboratory to a laboratory in the University of Hong Kong. Thus, the results described here show that the MERS-CoV S1 ELISA represents a cheap, rapid, robust, and reliable assay to support surveillance of MERS-CoV in camels in endemic regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leanne McNabb
- Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP), Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), East Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Peter A Durr
- Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP), Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), East Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ross Lunt
- Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP), Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), East Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jennifer Barr
- Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP), Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), East Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | | | | | - Leo L M Poon
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China
| | - Ranawaka Ap M Perera
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China
| | - Getnet Fekadu Demissie
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Epidemiology, Microbiology and Public Health, Haramaya University, Haramaya, Ethiopia
| | - Timothy R Bowden
- Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP), Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), East Geelong, Victoria, Australia
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2
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Ali MM, Fathelrahman E, El Awad AI, Eltahir YM, Osman R, El-Khatib Y, AlRifai RH, El Sadig M, Khalafalla AI, Reeves A. Epidemiology and Scenario Simulations of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus (MERS-CoV) Disease Spread and Control for Dromedary Camels in United Arab Emirates (UAE). Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:362. [PMID: 38338005 PMCID: PMC10854904 DOI: 10.3390/ani14030362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) is a coronavirus-caused viral respiratory infection initially detected in Saudi Arabia in 2012. In UAE, high seroprevalence (97.1) of MERS-CoV in camels was reported in several Emirate of Abu Dhabi studies, including camels in zoos, public escorts, and slaughterhouses. The objectives of this research include simulation of MERS-CoV spread using a customized animal disease spread model (i.e., customized stochastic model for the UAE; analyzing the MERS-CoV spread and prevalence based on camels age groups and identifying the optimum control MERS-CoV strategy. This study found that controlling animal mobility is the best management technique for minimizing epidemic length and the number of affected farms. This study also found that disease dissemination differs amongst camels of three ages: camel kids under the age of one, young camels aged one to four, and adult camels aged four and up; because of their immunological state, kids, as well as adults, had greater infection rates. To save immunization costs, it is advised that certain age groups be targeted and that intense ad hoc unexpected vaccinations be avoided. According to the study, choosing the best technique must consider both efficacy and cost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdi Mohamed Ali
- UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, Dubai 1509, United Arab Emirates;
| | - Eihab Fathelrahman
- Department of Integrative Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), Al Ain 1551, United Arab Emirates; (A.I.E.A.); (R.O.)
| | - Adil I. El Awad
- Department of Integrative Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), Al Ain 1551, United Arab Emirates; (A.I.E.A.); (R.O.)
| | - Yassir M. Eltahir
- Abu Dhabi Agricultural and Food Safety Authority ADAFSA, Abu Dhabi 52150, United Arab Emirates; (Y.M.E.); (A.I.K.)
| | - Raeda Osman
- Department of Integrative Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), Al Ain 1551, United Arab Emirates; (A.I.E.A.); (R.O.)
| | - Youssef El-Khatib
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), Al Ain 1551, United Arab Emirates;
| | - Rami H. AlRifai
- Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine, and Health Sciences (UAEU), Al Ain 1551, United Arab Emirates; (R.H.A.); (M.E.S.)
| | - Mohamed El Sadig
- Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine, and Health Sciences (UAEU), Al Ain 1551, United Arab Emirates; (R.H.A.); (M.E.S.)
| | | | - Aaron Reeves
- Center for Public Health Surveillance and Technology, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, Raleigh, NC 27709, USA;
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3
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Conca W, Saleh SM, Al-Rabiah R, Parhar RS, Abd-Elnaeim M, Al-Hindas H, Tinson A, Kroell KB, Liedl KR, Collison K, Kishore U, Al-Mohanna F. The immunoglobulin A isotype of the Arabian camel ( Camelus dromedarius) preserves the dualistic structure of unconventional single-domain and canonical heavy chains. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1289769. [PMID: 38162642 PMCID: PMC10756906 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1289769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The evolution of adaptive immunity in Camelidae resulted in the concurrent expression of classic heterotetrameric and unconventional homodimeric heavy chain-only IgG antibodies. Heavy chain-only IgG bears a single variable domain and lacks the constant heavy (CH) γ1 domain required for pairing with the light chain. It has not been reported whether this distinctive feature of IgG is also observed in the IgA isotype. Methods Gene-specific primers were used to generate an IgA heavy chain cDNA library derived from RNA extracted from the dromedary's third eyelid where isolated lymphoid follicles and plasma cells abound at inductive and effector sites, respectively. Results Majority of the cDNA clones revealed hallmarks of heavy chain-only antibodies, i.e. camelid-specific amino acid substitutions in framework region 1 and 2, broad length distribution of complementarity determining region 3, and the absence of the CHα1 domain. In a few clones, however, the cDNA of the canonical IgA heavy chain was amplified which included the CHα1 domain, analogous to CHγ1 domain in IgG1 subclass. Moreover, we noticed a short, proline-rich hinge, and, at the N-terminal end of the CHα3 domain, a unique, camelid-specific pentapeptide of undetermined function, designated as the inter-α region. Immunoblots using rabbit anti-camel IgA antibodies raised against CHα2 and CHα3 domains as well as the inter-α region revealed the expression of a ~52 kDa and a ~60 kDa IgA species, corresponding to unconventional and canonical IgA heavy chain, respectively, in the third eyelid, trachea, small and large intestine. In contrast, the leporine anti-CHα1 antibody detected canonical, but not unconventional IgA heavy chain, in all the examined tissues, milk, and serum, in addition to another hitherto unexplored species of ~45 kDa in milk and serum. Immunohistology using anti-CHα domain antibodies confirmed the expression of both variants of IgA heavy chains in plasma cells in the third eyelid's lacrimal gland, conjunctiva, tracheal and intestinal mucosa. Conclusion We found that in the dromedary, the IgA isotype has expanded the immunoglobulin repertoire by co-expressing unconventional and canonical IgA heavy chains, comparable to the IgG class, thus underscoring the crucial role of heavy chain-only antibodies not only in circulation but also at the mucosal frontiers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter Conca
- Department of Executive Health Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Cell Biology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Soad M. Saleh
- Department of Cell Biology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rana Al-Rabiah
- Department of Cell Biology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ranjit Singh Parhar
- Department of Cell Biology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mahmoud Abd-Elnaeim
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Hussein Al-Hindas
- Department of Cell Biology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Alexander Tinson
- Management of Scientific Centers and Presidential Camels, Department of President’s Affairs, Hilli ET and Cloning Centre, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | | | - Klaus Roman Liedl
- Center for Chemistry and Biomedicine, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Kate Collison
- Department of Cell Biology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Uday Kishore
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Futwan Al-Mohanna
- Department of Cell Biology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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4
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Alshehri A, Mir NA, Miled N. Detection of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-Specific RNA and Anti-MERS-Receptor-Binding Domain Antibodies in Camel Milk from Different Regions of Saudi Arabia. Viral Immunol 2022; 35:673-680. [PMID: 36534466 DOI: 10.1089/vim.2022.0045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) causes viral pneumonia disease in humans. The close contact with camels and drinking milk may cause MERS-CoV transfer to humans. This study was designed to detect the existence of MERS-CoV in camel milk samples collected from healthy animals of various barns located around Saudi Arabia. Camel milk samples were examined for MERS-CoV RNA by real time-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, also enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to detect IgG antibodies directed against Middle East respiratory syndrome receptor-binding domain. Among 83 camel milk samples tested, the result showed that seven samples (8.4%) were positive for MERS-CoV RNA, whereas 40.9% of camel milk samples had antibodies directed against MERS-CoV. The findings indicate that some regions (East and South part) are characterized by a high incidence of viral antibodies. The Southwestern region displayed the lowest infection rates. Among the camel breeds, the lowest positivity for detection of MERS-CoV RNA and IgG antibodies was found in Sahilia. This could be related to a higher resistance to viral infection of the breed Sahilia and/or to the geographical origin of the camels sampled in the study. This needs to be more explored to reduce spread of infection and also to understand the underlying reasons. The presence of viral RNA in camel milk samples warrants for measures to prevent possible foodborne transmission of MERS-CoV through milk consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aiydh Alshehri
- Department of Microbiology, Riyadh Municipality Central Area Labs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Departmet of Biological Sciences, College of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Naiman Ali Mir
- Department of Microbiology, Riyadh Municipality Central Area Labs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Microbiology, Mumtaz Degree and P.G. College, Hyderabad, India
| | - Nabil Miled
- Departmet of Biological Sciences, College of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,Life Sciences Research Unit, Center for Sciences and Medical Research, The University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,Functional Genomics and Plant Physiology Research Unit, Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Sfax, Sfax University, Sfax, Tunisia
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5
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Alharbi NK, Aljamaan F, Aljami HA, Alenazi MW, Albalawi H, Almasoud A, Alharthi FJ, Azhar EI, Barhoumi T, Bosaeed M, Gilbert SC, Hashem AM. Immunogenicity of High-Dose MVA-Based MERS Vaccine Candidate in Mice and Camels. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10081330. [PMID: 36016218 PMCID: PMC9413082 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10081330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a zoonotic pathogen that can transmit from dromedary camels to humans, causing severe pneumonia, with a 35% mortality rate. Vaccine candidates have been developed and tested in mice, camels, and humans. Previously, we developed a vaccine based on the modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) viral vector, encoding a full-length spike protein of MERS-CoV, MVA-MERS. Here, we report the immunogenicity of high-dose MVA-MERS in prime–boost vaccinations in mice and camels. Methods: Three groups of mice were immunised with MVA wild-type (MVA-wt) and MVA-MERS (MVA-wt/MVA-MERS), MVA-MERS/MVA-wt, or MVA-MERS/MVA-MERS. Camels were immunised with two doses of PBS, MVA-wt, or MVA-MERS. Antibody (Ab) responses were evaluated using ELISA and MERS pseudovirus neutralisation assays. Results: Two high doses of MVA-MERS induced strong Ab responses in both mice and camels, including neutralising antibodies. Anti-MVA Ab responses did not affect the immune responses to the vaccine antigen (MERS-CoV spike). Conclusions: MVA-MERS vaccine, administered in a homologous prime–boost regimen, induced high levels of neutralising anti-MERS-CoV antibodies in mice and camels. This could be considered for further development and evaluation as a dromedary vaccine to reduce MERS-CoV transmission to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naif Khalaf Alharbi
- Vaccine Development Unit, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh 11481, Saudi Arabia
- College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh 14611, Saudi Arabia
- Correspondence:
| | - Fahad Aljamaan
- Animal Facilities, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh 11481, Saudi Arabia
| | - Haya A. Aljami
- Vaccine Development Unit, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh 11481, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed W. Alenazi
- Vaccine Development Unit, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh 11481, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hind Albalawi
- Vaccine Development Unit, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh 11481, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulrahman Almasoud
- Vaccine Development Unit, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh 11481, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fatima J. Alharthi
- Vaccine Development Unit, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh 11481, Saudi Arabia
| | - Esam I. Azhar
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 22254, Saudi Arabia
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 22254, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tlili Barhoumi
- Vaccine Development Unit, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh 11481, Saudi Arabia
- College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh 14611, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad Bosaeed
- Vaccine Development Unit, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh 11481, Saudi Arabia
- College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh 14611, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medicine, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh 12746, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Anwar M. Hashem
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 22254, Saudi Arabia
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 22254, Saudi Arabia
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6
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Te N, Ciurkiewicz M, van den Brand JMA, Rodon J, Haverkamp AK, Vergara-Alert J, Bensaid A, Haagmans BL, Baumgartner W, Segalés J. Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection in camelids. Vet Pathol 2022; 59:546-555. [PMID: 35001773 DOI: 10.1177/03009858211069120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is the cause of a severe respiratory disease with a high case fatality rate in humans. Since its emergence in mid-2012, 2578 laboratory-confirmed cases in 27 countries have been reported by the World Health Organization, leading to 888 known deaths due to the disease and related complications. Dromedary camels are considered the major reservoir host for this virus leading to zoonotic infection in humans. Dromedary camels, llamas, and alpacas are susceptible to MERS-CoV, developing a mild-to-moderate upper respiratory tract infection characterized by epithelial hyperplasia as well as infiltration of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and some macrophages within epithelium, lamina propria, in association with abundant viral antigen. The very mild lesions in the lower respiratory tract of these camelids correlate with absence of overt illness following MERS-CoV infection. Unfortunately, there is no approved antiviral treatment or vaccine for MERS-CoV infection in humans. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop intervention strategies in camelids, such as vaccination, to minimize virus spillover to humans. Therefore, the development of camelid models of MERS-CoV infection is key not only to assess vaccine prototypes but also to understand the biologic mechanisms by which the infection can be naturally controlled in these reservoir species. This review summarizes information on virus-induced pathological changes, pathogenesis, viral epidemiology, and control strategies in camelids, as the intermediate hosts and primary source of MERS-CoV infection in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nigeer Te
- IRTA, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA, IRTA-UAB), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | | | | | - Jordi Rodon
- IRTA, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA, IRTA-UAB), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | | | - Júlia Vergara-Alert
- IRTA, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA, IRTA-UAB), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Albert Bensaid
- IRTA, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA, IRTA-UAB), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Bart L Haagmans
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Joaquim Segalés
- UAB, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA, IRTA-UAB), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.,Departament de Sanitat i Anatomia Animals, Facultat de Veterinària, UAB, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
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7
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Teng JLL, Wernery U, Lee HH, Fung J, Joseph S, Li KSM, Elizabeth SK, Fong JYH, Chan KH, Chen H, Lau SKP, Woo PCY. Co-circulation of a Novel Dromedary Camel Parainfluenza Virus 3 and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus in a Dromedary Herd With Respiratory Tract Infections. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:739779. [PMID: 34956112 PMCID: PMC8705932 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.739779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the emergence of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in 2012, there have been a surge in the discovery and evolutionary studies of viruses in dromedaries. Here, we investigated a herd of nine dromedary calves from Umm Al Quwain, the United Arab Emirates that developed respiratory signs. Viral culture of the nasal swabs from the nine calves on Vero cells showed two different types of cytopathic effects (CPEs), suggesting the presence of two different viruses. Three samples showed typical CPEs of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Vero cells, which was confirmed by partial RdRp gene sequencing. Complete genome sequencing of the three MERS-CoV strains showed that they belonged to clade B3, most closely related to another dromedary MERS-CoV isolate previously detected in Dubai. They also showed evidence of recombination between lineages B4 and B5 in ORF1ab. Another three samples showed non-typical CPEs of MERS-CoV with cell rounding, progressive degeneration, and detachment. Electron microscopy revealed spherical viral particles with peplomers and diameter of about 170nm. High-throughput sequencing and metagenomic analysis showed that the genome organization (3'-N-P-M-F-HN-L-5') was typical of paramyxovirus. They possessed typical genome features similar to other viruses of the genus Respirovirus, including a conserved motif 323FAPGNYALSYAM336 in the N protein, RNA editing sites 5'-717AAAAAAGGG725-3', and 5'-1038AGAAGAAAGAAAGG1051-3' (mRNA sense) in the P gene with multiple polypeptides coding capacity, a nuclear localization signal sequence 245KVGRMYSVEYCKQKIEK261 in the M protein, a conserved sialic acid binding motif 252NRKSCS257 in the HN protein, conserved lengths of the leader (55nt) and trailer (51nt) sequences, total coding percentages (92.6–93.4%), gene-start (AGGANNAAAG), gene-end (NANNANNAAAAA), and trinucleotide intergenic sequences (CTT, mRNA sense). Phylogenetic analysis of their complete genomes showed that they were most closely related to bovine parainfluenza virus 3 (PIV3) genotype C strains. In the phylogenetic tree constructed using the complete L protein, the branch length between dromedary camel PIV3 (DcPIV3) and the nearest node is 0.04, which is >0.03, the definition used for species demarcation in the family Paramyxoviridae. Therefore, we show that DcPIV3 is a novel species of the genus Respirovirus that co-circulated with MERS-CoV in a dromedary herd in the Middle East.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jade Lee Lee Teng
- Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ulrich Wernery
- Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Hwei Huih Lee
- Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Joshua Fung
- Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Sunitha Joseph
- Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Kenneth Sze Ming Li
- Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | | | - Jordan Yik Hei Fong
- Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Kwok-Hung Chan
- Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Honglin Chen
- Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Susanna Kar Pui Lau
- Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Patrick Chiu Yat Woo
- Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
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8
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Al-Tawfiq JA, Azhar EI, Memish ZA, Zumla A. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus. Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2021; 42:828-838. [PMID: 34918324 DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1733804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The past two decades have witnessed the emergence of three zoonotic coronaviruses which have jumped species to cause lethal disease in humans: severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 1 (SARS-CoV-1), Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and SARS-CoV-2. MERS-CoV emerged in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and the origins of MERS-CoV are not fully understood. Genomic analysis indicates it originated in bats and transmitted to camels. Human-to-human transmission occurs in varying frequency, being highest in healthcare environment and to a lesser degree in the community and among family members. Several nosocomial outbreaks of human-to-human transmission have occurred, the largest in Riyadh and Jeddah in 2014 and South Korea in 2015. MERS-CoV remains a high-threat pathogen identified by World Health Organization as a priority pathogen because it causes severe disease that has a high mortality rate, epidemic potential, and no medical countermeasures. MERS-CoV has been identified in dromedaries in several countries in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. MERS-CoV-2 causes a wide range of clinical presentations, although the respiratory system is predominantly affected. There are no specific antiviral treatments, although recent trials indicate that combination antivirals may be useful in severely ill patients. Diagnosing MERS-CoV early and implementation infection control measures are critical to preventing hospital-associated outbreaks. Preventing MERS relies on avoiding unpasteurized or uncooked animal products, practicing safe hygiene habits in health care settings and around dromedaries, community education and awareness training for health workers, as well as implementing effective control measures. Effective vaccines for MERS-COV are urgently needed but still under development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaffar A Al-Tawfiq
- Infectious Disease Unit, Specialty Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.,Division of Infectious Disease, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana.,Division of Infectious Disease, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Esam I Azhar
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ziad A Memish
- Research and Innovation Centre, King Saud Medical City, Ministry of Health and College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Hubert Department of Global Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Alimuddin Zumla
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Department of Infection, University College London and NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
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9
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Bakhtazad A, Garmabi B, Joghataei MT. Neurological manifestations of coronavirus infections, before and after COVID-19: a review of animal studies. J Neurovirol 2021; 27:864-884. [PMID: 34727365 PMCID: PMC8561685 DOI: 10.1007/s13365-021-01014-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This virus, which was first identified in December 2019 in China, has resulted in a yet ongoing viral pandemic. Coronaviridae could potentially cause several disorders in a wide range of hosts such as birds and mammals. Although infections caused by this family of viruses are predominantly limited to the respiratory tract, Betacoronaviruses are potentially able to invade the central nervous system (CNS) as well as many other organs, thereby inducing neurological damage ranging from mild to lethal in both animals and humans. Over the past two decades, three novel CoVs, SARS-CoV-1, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2, emerging from animal reservoirs have exhibited neurotropic properties causing severe and even fatal neurological diseases. The pathobiology of these neuroinvasive viruses has yet to be fully known. Both clinical features of the previous CoV epidemics (SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoV) and lessons from animal models used in studying neurotropic CoVs, especially SARS and MERS, constitute beneficial tools in comprehending the exact mechanisms of virus implantation and in illustrating pathogenesis and virus dissemination pathways in the CNS. Here, we review the animal research which assessed CNS infections with previous more studied neurotropic CoVs to demonstrate how experimental studies with appliable animal models can provide scientists with a roadmap in the CNS impacts of SARS-CoV-2. Indeed, animal studies can finally help us discover the underlying mechanisms of damage to the nervous system in COVID-19 patients and find novel therapeutic agents in order to reduce mortality and morbidity associated with neurological complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atefeh Bakhtazad
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center (CMRC), Iran University of Medical Sciences, 1449614535 Tehran, Iran
| | - Behzad Garmabi
- School of Medicine, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Haft-Tir Sq, University Blv, 3614773947 Shahroud, Iran
| | - Mohammad Taghi Joghataei
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center (CMRC), Iran University of Medical Sciences, 1449614535 Tehran, Iran
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10
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Ababneh MM, Lafi SQ, Abutarbush SM, Khalifeh MS, Hijazeen ZS, Ramadneh WA, Al Ameer MS, Abukhalifeh FY, Kutkut TA, Dodeen RA, El Masry I, von Dobschuetz S. Longitudinal and abattoir-based surveillance of MERS-CoV in camels in Jordan, 2018-2020. Heliyon 2021; 7:e08166. [PMID: 34703929 PMCID: PMC8526755 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e08166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
To generate baseline information to help better understand the antibody kinetics and nasal shedding dynamics of MERS-CoV in camels in Jordan, a longitudinal surveillance study was conducted in two phases; phase 1 was between December, 2018 and January, 2019 and phase 2 between August and December 2020. In each phase, two camel herds were studied. These herds were located in Al-azraq and in Al-ramtha area and were named Al-azraq and Al-ramtha herds, respectively. The same camel herd of Al-zarqa area was sampled in both phases while two different camel herds, one in each phase, were sampled in Al-ramtha area. Blood and nasal swabs were collected from same selected animals in all visits to each herd in both phases. Additionally, nasal swabs and retropharyngeal lymph node tissue samples were collected from sixty-one camels slaughtered at Al-ramtha abattoir during phase 2 to enhance virus isolation opportunities and phylogenetic analysis. All sampled animals from Al-azraq camel herd were either borderline or seropositive on spike 1 based ELISA assay and negative on quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in both phases. In Al-ramtha camel herds, an unsteady pattern prevailed in animals' seropositivity in both phases and viral RNA was detected in all animals in the end of phase 1 and in one animal during phase 2. For the seroconversion, anti-MERS-CoV spike 1 antibodies were detected in two animals in phase 1 in the first collection only. While, in phase 2, intermittent seroconversion pattern was observed in several samples over time of collections that ended with all animals became seropositive in the last collection (after nineteen days from viral RNA detection). In addition, viral RNA was detected in nasal swabs of 3 slaughtered camels. Phylogenetic analysis of a partial fragment of spike 1 gene sequences of all MERS-CoV isolates clustered together with clade B of MERS-CoV. This cluster contains all MERS-CoV sequences obtained either from camels or human sources in the Arabian Peninsula indicating the continuous circulation of this clade also in Jordan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa M. Ababneh
- Department of Basic Medical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Shawkat Q. Lafi
- Department of Animal Pathology and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Sameeh M. Abutarbush
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Mohamad S. Khalifeh
- Department of Basic Medical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | | | - Wafaa A. Ramadneh
- Food and Agriculture Organizations of the United Nations (FAO), Amman, Jordan
| | - Maisa S. Al Ameer
- Jordan Ministry of Agriculture, Central Laboratory Department, Virology Section, Ministry of Agriculture, Amman, Jordan
| | - Fadia Y. Abukhalifeh
- Jordan Ministry of Agriculture, Central Laboratory Department, Virology Section, Ministry of Agriculture, Amman, Jordan
| | - Tamam A. Kutkut
- Jordan Ministry of Agriculture, Central Laboratory Department, Virology Section, Ministry of Agriculture, Amman, Jordan
| | - Rachel A. Dodeen
- Animal Quarantine Division, Veterinary and Animal Health Directorate, Ministry of Agriculture, Amman, Jordan
| | - Ihab El Masry
- Food and Agriculture Organizations of the United Nations (FAO), Rome, Italy
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11
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Holloway P, Gibson M, van Doremalen N, Nash S, Holloway T, Letko M, Cardwell JM, Al Omari B, Al-Majali A, Abu-Basha E, Mangtani P, Munster VJ, Guitian J. Risk Factors for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infection among Camel Populations, Southern Jordan, 2014-2018. Emerg Infect Dis 2021; 27:2301-2311. [PMID: 34423762 PMCID: PMC8386791 DOI: 10.3201/eid2709.203508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
After the first detection of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in camels in Jordan in 2013, we conducted 2 consecutive surveys in 2014–2015 and 2017–2018 investigating risk factors for MERS-CoV infection among camel populations in southern Jordan. Multivariate analysis to control for confounding demonstrated that borrowing of camels, particularly males, for breeding purposes was associated with increased MERS-CoV seroprevalence among receiving herds, suggesting a potential route of viral transmission between herds. Increasing age, herd size, and use of water troughs within herds were also associated with increased seroprevalence. Closed herd management practices were found to be protective. Future vaccination strategies among camel populations in Jordan could potentially prioritize breeding males, which are likely to be shared between herds. In addition, targeted management interventions with the potential to reduce transmission between herds should be considered; voluntary closed herd schemes offer a possible route to achieving disease-free herds.
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12
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Alnuqaydan AM, Almutary AG, Sukamaran A, Yang BTW, Lee XT, Lim WX, Ng YM, Ibrahim R, Darmarajan T, Nanjappan S, Chellian J, Candasamy M, Madheswaran T, Sharma A, Dureja H, Prasher P, Verma N, Kumar D, Palaniveloo K, Bisht D, Gupta G, Madan JR, Singh SK, Jha NK, Dua K, Chellappan DK. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) Virus-Pathophysiological Axis and the Current Treatment Strategies. AAPS PharmSciTech 2021; 22:173. [PMID: 34105037 PMCID: PMC8186825 DOI: 10.1208/s12249-021-02062-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a lethal respiratory disease with its first case reported back in 2012 (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia). It is a novel, single-stranded, positive-sense RNA beta coronavirus (MERS-CoV) that was isolated from a patient who died from a severe respiratory illness. Later, it was found that this patient was infected with MERS. MERS is endemic to countries in the Middle East regions, such as Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. It has been reported that the MERS virus originated from bats and dromedary camels, the natural hosts of MERS-CoV. The transmission of the virus to humans has been thought to be either direct or indirect. Few camel-to-human transmissions were reported earlier. However, the mode of transmission of how the virus affects humans remains unanswered. Moreover, outbreaks in either family-based or hospital-based settings were observed with high mortality rates, especially in individuals who did not receive proper management or those with underlying comorbidities, such as diabetes and renal failure. Since then, there have been numerous reports hypothesising complications in fatal cases of MERS. Over the years, various diagnostic methods, treatment strategies and preventive measures have been strategised in containing the MERS infection. Evidence from multiple sources implicated that no treatment options and vaccines have been developed in specific, for the direct management of MERS-CoV infection. Nevertheless, there are supportive measures outlined in response to symptom-related management. Health authorities should stress more on infection and prevention control measures, to ensure that MERS remains as a low-level threat to public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah M Alnuqaydan
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulmajeed G Almutary
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Arulmalar Sukamaran
- School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, 126, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Brian Tay Wei Yang
- School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, 126, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Xiao Ting Lee
- School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, 126, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Wei Xuan Lim
- School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, 126, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Yee Min Ng
- School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, 126, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Rania Ibrahim
- School of Health Sciences, International Medical University, 126, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Thiviya Darmarajan
- School of Health Sciences, International Medical University, 126, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Satheeshkumar Nanjappan
- Department of Natural Products, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research (NIPER-Kolkata), Chunilal Bhawan, Maniktala, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700054, India
| | - Jestin Chellian
- Department of Life Sciences, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Mayuren Candasamy
- Department of Life Sciences, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Thiagarajan Madheswaran
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Ankur Sharma
- Department of Life Science, School of Basic Science and Research, Sharda University, Knowledge Park, Uttar Pradesh, 201310, India
| | - Harish Dureja
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, India
| | - Parteek Prasher
- Department of Chemistry, University of Petroleum & Energy Studies, Energy Acres, Dehradun, 248007, India
| | - Nitin Verma
- Chitkara University School of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Atal Shiksha Kunj, Atal Nagar, Himachal Pradesh, 174103, India
| | - Deepak Kumar
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shoolini University, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, 173229, India
| | - Kishneth Palaniveloo
- Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Institute for Advanced Studies Building, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Dheeraj Bisht
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences Bhimtal, Kumaun University Nainital, Uttarakhand, 263136, India
| | - Gaurav Gupta
- School of Pharmacy, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur, India
| | - Jyotsana R Madan
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Smt. Kashibai Navale College of Pharmacy, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Sachin Kumar Singh
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar-Delhi G.T Road, Phagwara, Punjab, India
| | - Niraj Kumar Jha
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering & Technology (SET), Sharda University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 201310, India
| | - Kamal Dua
- Discipline of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia.
| | - Dinesh Kumar Chellappan
- Department of Life Sciences, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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13
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Chouchane L, Grivel JC, Farag EABA, Pavlovski I, Maacha S, Sathappan A, Al-Romaihi HE, Abuaqel SW, Ata MMA, Chouchane AI, Remadi S, Halabi N, Rafii A, Al-Thani MH, Marr N, Subramanian M, Shan J. Dromedary camels as a natural source of neutralizing nanobodies against SARS-CoV-2. JCI Insight 2021; 6:145785. [PMID: 33529170 PMCID: PMC8021111 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.145785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of prophylactic and therapeutic agents for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a current global health priority. Here, we investigated the presence of cross-neutralizing antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in dromedary camels that were Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) seropositive but MERS-CoV free. The tested 229 dromedaries had anti–MERS-CoV camel antibodies with variable cross-reactivity patterns against SARS-CoV-2 proteins, including the S trimer and M, N, and E proteins. Using SARS-CoV-2 competitive immunofluorescence immunoassays and pseudovirus neutralization assays, we found medium-to-high titers of cross-neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in these animals. Through linear B cell epitope mapping using phage immunoprecipitation sequencing and a SARS-CoV-2 peptide/proteome microarray, we identified a large repertoire of Betacoronavirus cross-reactive antibody specificities in these dromedaries and demonstrated that the SARS-CoV-2–specific VHH antibody repertoire is qualitatively diverse. This analysis revealed not only several SARS-CoV-2 epitopes that are highly immunogenic in humans, including a neutralizing epitope, but also epitopes exclusively targeted by camel antibodies. The identified SARS-CoV-2 cross-neutralizing camel antibodies are not proposed as a potential treatment for COVID-19. Rather, their presence in nonimmunized camels supports the development of SARS-CoV-2 hyperimmune camels, which could be a prominent source of therapeutic agents for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lotfi Chouchane
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA.,Genetic Intelligence Laboratory, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar.,Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | | | | | - Igor Pavlovski
- Deep Phenotyping Core, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Selma Maacha
- Deep Phenotyping Core, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Hamad Eid Al-Romaihi
- Department of Communicable Diseases Control, Ministry of Public Health, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sirin Wj Abuaqel
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA.,Genetic Intelligence Laboratory, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar.,Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | | | | | | | - Najeeb Halabi
- Genetic Intelligence Laboratory, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar.,Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Arash Rafii
- Genetic Intelligence Laboratory, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar.,Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Nico Marr
- Department of Immunology, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Murugan Subramanian
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA.,Genetic Intelligence Laboratory, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Jingxuan Shan
- Genetic Intelligence Laboratory, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar.,Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
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14
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Adney DR, Clancy CS, Bowen RA, Munster VJ. Camelid Inoculation With Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus: Experimental Models of Reservoir Host Infection. Viruses 2020; 12:v12121370. [PMID: 33266124 PMCID: PMC7759921 DOI: 10.3390/v12121370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Within the past two decades, three zoonotic betacoronaviruses have been associated with outbreaks causing severe respiratory disease in humans. Of these, Middle East respiratory s yndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is the only zoonotic coronavirus that is known to consistently result in frequent zoonotic spillover events from the proximate reservoir host—the dromedary camel. A comprehensive understanding of infection in dromedaries is critical to informing public health recommendations and implementing intervention strategies to mitigate spillover events. Experimental models of reservoir disease are absolutely critical in understanding the pathogenesis and transmission, and are key to testing potential dromedary vaccines against MERS-CoV. In this review, we describe experimental infections of dromedary camels as well as additional camelid models used to further understand the camel’s role in MERS-CoV spillover to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle R. Adney
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA;
| | - Chad S. Clancy
- Rocky Mountain Veterinary Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA;
| | - Richard A. Bowen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA;
| | - Vincent J. Munster
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +406-375-7489
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15
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High Rate of Circulating MERS-CoV in Dromedary Camels at Slaughterhouses in Riyadh, 2019. Viruses 2020; 12:v12111215. [PMID: 33120981 PMCID: PMC7692456 DOI: 10.3390/v12111215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2020] [Revised: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
MERS-CoV is a zoonotic virus that has emerged in humans in 2012 and caused severe respiratory illness with a mortality rate of 34.4%. Since its appearance, MERS-CoV has been reported in 27 countries and most of these cases were in Saudi Arabia. So far, dromedaries are considered to be the intermediate host and the only known source of human infection. This study was designed to determine the seroprevalence and the infection rate of MERS-CoV in slaughtered food-camels in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A total of 171 nasal swabs along with 161 serum samples were collected during the winter; from January to April 2019. Nasal swabs were examined by Rapid test and RT-PCR to detect MERS-CoV RNA, while serum samples were tested primarily using S1-based ELISA Kit to detect MERS-CoV (IgG) antibodies and subsequently by MERS pseudotyped viral particles (MERSpp) neutralization assay for confirmation. Genetic diversity of the positive isolates was determined based on the amplification and sequencing of the spike gene. Our results showed high prevalence (38.6%) of MERS-CoV infection in slaughtered camels and high seropositivity (70.8%) during the time of the study. These data indicate previous and ongoing MERS-CoV infection in camels. Phylogenic analysis revealed relatively low genetic variability among our isolated samples. When these isolates were aligned against published spike sequences of MERS-CoV, deposited in global databases, there was sequence similarity of 94%. High seroprevalence and high genetic stability of MERS-CoV in camels indicating that camels pose a public health threat. The widespread MERS-CoV infections in camels might lead to a risk of future zoonotic transmission into people with direct contact with these infected camels. This study confirms re-infections in camels, highlighting a challenge for vaccine development when it comes to protective immunity.
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16
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Killerby ME, Biggs HM, Midgley CM, Gerber SI, Watson JT. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Transmission. Emerg Infect Dis 2020; 26:191-198. [PMID: 31961300 PMCID: PMC6986839 DOI: 10.3201/eid2602.190697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection causes a spectrum of respiratory illness, from asymptomatic to mild to fatal. MERS-CoV is transmitted sporadically from dromedary camels to humans and occasionally through human-to-human contact. Current epidemiologic evidence supports a major role in transmission for direct contact with live camels or humans with symptomatic MERS, but little evidence suggests the possibility of transmission from camel products or asymptomatic MERS cases. Because a proportion of case-patients do not report direct contact with camels or with persons who have symptomatic MERS, further research is needed to conclusively determine additional mechanisms of transmission, to inform public health practice, and to refine current precautionary recommendations.
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17
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Tolah AM, AL Masaudi SB, El-Kafrawy SA, Mirza AA, Harakeh SM, Hassan AM, Alsaadi MA, Alzahrani AA, Alsaaidi GA, Amor NMS, Alagaili AN, Hashem AM, Azhar EI. Cross-sectional prevalence study of MERS-CoV in local and imported dromedary camels in Saudi Arabia, 2016-2018. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0232790. [PMID: 32453746 PMCID: PMC7250453 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0232790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is an endemic virus in dromedaries. Annually, Saudi Arabia imports thousands of camels from the Horn of Africa, yet the epidemiology of MERS-CoV in these animals is largely unknown. Here, MERS-CoV prevalence was compared in imported African camels and their local counterparts. A total of 1399 paired sera and nasal swabs were collected from camels between 2016 and 2018. Imported animals from Sudan (n = 829) and Djibouti (n = 328) were sampled on incoming ships at Jeddah Islamic seaport before unloading, and local camels were sampled from Jeddah (n = 242). Samples were screened for neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) and MERS-CoV viral RNA. The overall seroprevalence was 92.7% and RNA detection rate was 17.2%. Imported camels had higher seroprevalence compared to resident herds (93.8% vs 87.6%, p <0.01) in contrast to RNA detection (13.3% vs 35.5%, p <0.0001). Seroprevalence significantly increased with age (p<0.0001) and viral RNA detection rate was ~2-folds higher in camels <2-year-old compared to older animals. RNA detection was higher in males verses females (24.3% vs 12.6%, p<0.0001) but seroprevalence was similar. Concurrent positivity for viral RNA and nAbs was found in >87% of the RNA positive animals, increased with age and was sex-dependent. Importantly, reduced viral RNA load was positively correlated with nAb titers. Our data confirm the widespread of MERS-CoV in imported and domestic camels in Saudi Arabia and highlight the need for continuous active surveillance and better prevention measures. Further studies are also warranted to understand camels correlates of protection for proper vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed M. Tolah
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Biological Science, Faculty of science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saad B. AL Masaudi
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Biological Science, Faculty of science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sherif A. El-Kafrawy
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed A. Mirza
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Steve M. Harakeh
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed M. Hassan
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed A. Alsaadi
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulrahman A. Alzahrani
- Directorate of Agriculture, Ministry of Environment Water and Agriculture, Makkah Region, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ghaleb A. Alsaaidi
- Directorate of Agriculture, Ministry of Environment Water and Agriculture, Makkah Region, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nabil M. S. Amor
- KSU Mammals Research Chair, Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulaziz N. Alagaili
- KSU Mammals Research Chair, Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Anwar M. Hashem
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- * E-mail: (AH); (EA)
| | - Esam I. Azhar
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- * E-mail: (AH); (EA)
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18
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Al-Tawfiq JA, Memish ZA. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus. Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2020; 41:568-578. [PMID: 32305045 PMCID: PMC7516363 DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1709160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Emerging infectious diseases continue to be of a significant importance worldwide with the potential to cause major outbreaks and global pandemics. In 2002, the world had witnessed the appearance of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus in China which disappeared abruptly within 6 months. About a decade later, a new and emerging novel coronavirus named the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was described in a patient from Saudi Arabia. These two coronaviruses shared multiple similarities in the epidemiology, clinical presentations, and posed challenges in its prevention and management. Seven years since its discovery, MERS-CoV continues to be a lethal zoonotic pathogen capable of causing severe pneumonia with high case fatality rates and the ability to cause large health care-associated outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaffar A Al-Tawfiq
- Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.,Infectious Disease Division, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana.,Infectious Disease Division, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Ziad A Memish
- Director Research & Innovation Center, Research Center Department, King Saud Medical City, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Medicine, Al-Faisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
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19
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Single-Dose, Intranasal Immunization with Recombinant Parainfluenza Virus 5 Expressing Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) Spike Protein Protects Mice from Fatal MERS-CoV Infection. mBio 2020; 11:mBio.00554-20. [PMID: 32265331 PMCID: PMC7157776 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00554-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) can cause severe and fatal acute respiratory disease in humans and remains endemic in the Middle East since first being identified in 2012. There are currently no approved vaccines or therapies available for MERS-CoV. In this study, we evaluated parainfluenza virus 5 (PIV5)-based vaccine expressing the MERS-CoV envelope spike protein (PIV5/MERS-S) in a human DPP4 knockin C57BL/6 congenic mouse model (hDPP4 KI). Following a single-dose intranasal immunization, PIV5-MERS-S induced neutralizing antibody and robust T cell responses in hDPP4 KI mice. A single intranasal administration of 104 PFU PIV5-MERS-S provided complete protection against a lethal challenge with mouse-adapted MERS-CoV (MERSMA6.1.2) and improved virus clearance in the lung. In comparison, single-dose intramuscular immunization with 106 PFU UV-inactivated MERSMA6.1.2 mixed with Imject alum provided protection to only 25% of immunized mice. Intriguingly, an influx of eosinophils was observed only in the lungs of mice immunized with inactivated MERS-CoV, suggestive of a hypersensitivity-type response. Overall, our study indicated that PIV5-MERS-S is a promising effective vaccine candidate against MERS-CoV infection.IMPORTANCE MERS-CoV causes lethal infection in humans, and there is no vaccine. Our work demonstrates that PIV5 is a promising vector for developing a MERS vaccine. Furthermore, success of PIV5-based MERS vaccine can be employed to develop a vaccine for emerging CoVs such as SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19.
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20
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Global status of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus in dromedary camels: a systematic review. Epidemiol Infect 2020; 147:e84. [PMID: 30869000 PMCID: PMC6518605 DOI: 10.1017/s095026881800345x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Dromedary camels have been shown to be the main reservoir for human Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) infections. This systematic review aims to compile and analyse all published data on MERS-coronavirus (CoV) in the global camel population to provide an overview of current knowledge on the distribution, spread and risk factors of infections in dromedary camels. We included original research articles containing laboratory evidence of MERS-CoV infections in dromedary camels in the field from 2013 to April 2018. In general, camels only show minor clinical signs of disease after being infected with MERS-CoV. Serological evidence of MERS-CoV in camels has been found in 20 countries, with molecular evidence for virus circulation in 13 countries. The seroprevalence of MERS-CoV antibodies increases with age in camels, while the prevalence of viral shedding as determined by MERS-CoV RNA detection in nasal swabs decreases. In several studies, camels that were sampled at animal markets or quarantine facilities were seropositive more often than camels at farms as well as imported camels vs. locally bred camels. Some studies show a relatively higher seroprevalence and viral detection during the cooler winter months. Knowledge of the animal reservoir of MERS-CoV is essential to develop intervention and control measures to prevent human infections.
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21
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Fukushi S. Competitive ELISA for the Detection of Serum Antibodies Specific for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Methods Mol Biol 2020; 2203:55-65. [PMID: 32833203 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0900-2_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is the etiological agent of MERS, a severe respiratory disease first reported in the Middle East in 2012. Serological assays are used to diagnose MERS-CoV infection and to screen for serum antibodies in seroepidemiological studies. The conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is the preferred tool for detecting serum antibodies specific for pathogens; however, the utility of conventional ELISA with respect to detection of MERS-CoV antibodies is limited due to the number of false-positives caused by cross-reactivity of serum antibodies with antigens that are conserved among coronaviruses. The competitive ELISA (cELISA) uses a pathogen-specific monoclonal antibody (MAb) that competes with serum antibodies for binding to an antigen; therefore, it is used widely for serological surveillance of many pathogens. In this chapter, I describe detection of serum antibodies using cELISA based on MAbs specific for MERS-CoV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuetsu Fukushi
- Department of Virology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan.
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22
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Al-Raddadi RM, Shabouni OI, Alraddadi ZM, Alzalabani AH, Al-Asmari AM, Ibrahim A, Almarashi A, Madani TA. Burden of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection in Saudi Arabia. J Infect Public Health 2019; 13:692-696. [PMID: 31843650 PMCID: PMC7102537 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2019.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Revised: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
MERS-coronavirus infection is currently responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality in Saudi Arabia. Understanding its burden, as an emerging infectious disease, is vital for devising appropriate control strategies. In this study, the burden of MERS-CoV was estimated over 31months period from June 6, 2012 to January 5, 2015. The total number of patients was 835; 528 (63.2%) patients were male, 771 (92.3%) patients were ≥25 years of age, and 210 (25.1%) patients were healthcare workers. A total of 751 (89.9%) patients required hospitalization. The median duration between onset of illness and hospitalization was 2 days (interquartile range, 0-5). The median length of hospital stay was 14 days (IQR, 6-27). The overall case fatality rate was 43.1%. Basic reproductive number was 0.9. Being Saudi, non-healthcare workers, and age ≥65 years were significantly associated with higher mortality. In conclusion, MERS-CoV infection caused a substantial health burden in Saudi Arabia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajaa M Al-Raddadi
- Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
| | | | - Zeyad M Alraddadi
- King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulmohsen H Alzalabani
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Taibah University, Madinah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmad M Al-Asmari
- Ministry of Health, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | | | - Tariq A Madani
- Department of Medicine, Faulty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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23
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Ramshaw RE, Letourneau ID, Hong AY, Hon J, Morgan JD, Osborne JCP, Shirude S, Van Kerkhove MD, Hay SI, Pigott DM. A database of geopositioned Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus occurrences. Sci Data 2019; 6:318. [PMID: 31836720 PMCID: PMC6911100 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-019-0330-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
As a World Health Organization Research and Development Blueprint priority pathogen, there is a need to better understand the geographic distribution of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and its potential to infect mammals and humans. This database documents cases of MERS-CoV globally, with specific attention paid to zoonotic transmission. An initial literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus; after screening articles according to the inclusion/exclusion criteria, a total of 208 sources were selected for extraction and geo-positioning. Each MERS-CoV occurrence was assigned one of the following classifications based upon published contextual information: index, unspecified, secondary, mammal, environmental, or imported. In total, this database is comprised of 861 unique geo-positioned MERS-CoV occurrences. The purpose of this article is to share a collated MERS-CoV database and extraction protocol that can be utilized in future mapping efforts for both MERS-CoV and other infectious diseases. More broadly, it may also provide useful data for the development of targeted MERS-CoV surveillance, which would prove invaluable in preventing future zoonotic spillover. Measurement(s) | Middle East Respiratory Syndrome • geographic location | Technology Type(s) | digital curation | Factor Type(s) | geographic distribution of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) • year | Sample Characteristic - Organism | Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus | Sample Characteristic - Location | Earth (planet) |
Machine-accessible metadata file describing the reported data: 10.6084/m9.figshare.11108801
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca E Ramshaw
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, 2301 5th Ave., Suite 600, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Ian D Letourneau
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, 2301 5th Ave., Suite 600, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Amy Y Hong
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, 615N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21205, United States
| | - Julia Hon
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, 2301 5th Ave., Suite 600, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Julia D Morgan
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, 2301 5th Ave., Suite 600, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Joshua C P Osborne
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, 2301 5th Ave., Suite 600, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Shreya Shirude
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, 2301 5th Ave., Suite 600, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Maria D Van Kerkhove
- Department of Infectious Hazards Management, Health Emergencies Programme, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Simon I Hay
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, 2301 5th Ave., Suite 600, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Health Metrics Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, 2301 5th Ave., Suite 600, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - David M Pigott
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, 2301 5th Ave., Suite 600, Seattle, WA, United States. .,Department of Health Metrics Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, 2301 5th Ave., Suite 600, Seattle, WA, United States.
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24
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Teramichi T, Fukushi S, Hachiya Y, Melaku SK, Oguma K, Sentsui H. Evaluation of serological assays available in a biosafety level 2 laboratory and their application for survey of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus among livestock in Ethiopia. J Vet Med Sci 2019; 81:1887-1891. [PMID: 31685722 PMCID: PMC6943330 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.19-0436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
A serological survey of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was
conducted among dromedary camels and herbivorous animals sharing the same pasturage in
Ethiopia. The pseudotyped vesicular stomatitis virus coated with the spike protein of
MERS-CoV was used in virus neutralization (VN) tests performed in a biosafety level
(BSL)-2 laboratory. The results were similar to those obtained from the VN test using live
MERS-CoV and were more sensitive than the ELISA performed using synthetic MERS S1 fragment
as the antigen as well as the competitive ELISA performed using a monoclonal antibody
against MERS-CoV. According to the comprehensive results of the four types of
serodiagnosis methods, positive antibodies were detected only in dromedary camels and the
remaining herbivorous animals were not infected with the virus. Moreover, using the
present procedure, serological tests for MERS-CoV can be conducted even in BSL 2
laboratory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takurou Teramichi
- Laboratory of Veterinary Epizootiology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Nihon University, Kameino 1866, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 252-0880, Japan.,Present Address: Isahaya Meat Inspection Center, 79-20, Sakaimachi 79-20, Isahaya, Nagasaki 854-0022, Japan
| | - Shuetsu Fukushi
- Department of Virology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
| | - Yuma Hachiya
- Laboratory of Veterinary Epizootiology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Nihon University, Kameino 1866, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 252-0880, Japan
| | - Simenew Keskes Melaku
- Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, Akaky Kaliti Sub-city, Kilinto area, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Keisuke Oguma
- Laboratory of Veterinary Epizootiology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Nihon University, Kameino 1866, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 252-0880, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Sentsui
- Laboratory of Veterinary Epizootiology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Nihon University, Kameino 1866, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 252-0880, Japan
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25
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Lin Q, Chiu AP, Zhao S, He D. Modeling the spread of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus in Saudi Arabia. Stat Methods Med Res 2019; 27:1968-1978. [PMID: 29846148 DOI: 10.1177/0962280217746442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus has been persistent in the Middle East region since 2012. Abundant scientific evidence showed that dromedary camels are the primary host of the virus. Majority of human cases (i.e., 75% or 88%) are due to human-to-human transmission, while the others are due to camel-to-human transmission. Mathematical modeling of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus camel-to-camel transmission was lacking. Using the plug-and-play likelihood-based inference framework, we fitted a susceptible-exposed-infectious-recovered-susceptible model of camels to the reported human cases with a constant proportion of human cases from camels (i.e., either 25% or 12%). We considered two scenarios: (i) the transmission rate among camels is time-varying with a constant spill-over rate from camels to human or (ii) the spill-over rate is time-varying with a constant transmission rate among camels. Our estimated loss-of-immunity rate and prevalence of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infections among camels largely matched with previous serological or virological studies, shedding light on this issue. We recommended including dromedary camels in animal surveillance and control of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus in Saudi Arabia which could help reduce their sporadic introductions to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianying Lin
- Department of Applied Mathematics, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong (SAR), China
| | - Alice Py Chiu
- Department of Applied Mathematics, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong (SAR), China
| | - Shi Zhao
- Department of Applied Mathematics, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong (SAR), China
| | - Daihai He
- Department of Applied Mathematics, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong (SAR), China
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26
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Abstract
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a zoonotic disease transmitted from dromedary camels to people, which can result in outbreaks with human-to-human transmission. Because it is a subclinical infection in camels, epidemiological measures other than prevalence are challenging to assess. This study estimated the force of infection (FOI) of MERS-CoV in camel populations from age-stratified serological data. A cross-sectional study of MERS-CoV was conducted in Kenya from July 2016 to July 2017. Seroprevalence was stratified into four age groups: <1, 1–2, 2–3 and >3 years old. Age-independent and age-dependent linear and quadratic generalised linear models were used to estimate FOI in pastoral and ranching camel herds. Models were compared based on computed AIC values. Among pastoral herds, the age-dependent quadratic FOI was the best fit model, while the age-independent FOI was the best fit for the ranching herd data. FOI provides an indirect estimate of infection risk, which is especially valuable where direct estimates of incidence and other measures of infection are challenging to obtain. The FOIs estimated in this study provide important insight about MERS-CoV dynamics in the reservoir species, and contribute to our understanding of the zoonotic risks of this important public health threat.
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27
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Teng JLL, Wernery U, Lee HH, Joseph S, Fung J, Elizabeth SK, Yeong KY, Kinne J, Chan KH, Lau SKP, Woo PCY. First Isolation and Rapid Identification of Newcastle Disease Virus from Aborted Fetus of Dromedary Camel Using Next-Generation Sequencing. Viruses 2019; 11:v11090810. [PMID: 31480604 PMCID: PMC6783818 DOI: 10.3390/v11090810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Revised: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Newcastle disease virus (NDV) causes morbidities and mortalities in wild and domestic birds globally. For humans, exposure to infected birds can cause conjunctivitis and influenza-like symptoms. NDV infections in mammals are rarely reported. In this study, using next-generation sequencing, an NDV was identified and isolated from Vero cells inoculated with the nasal swab of an aborted dromedary fetus in Dubai, during the time when an NDV outbreak occurred in a pigeon farm located in close proximity to the dairy camel farm where the mother of the aborted dromedary fetus resided, and there were a lot of pigeons in the camel farm. Genome analysis revealed that the structurally and functionally important features of other NDVs were also present in this dromedary NDV genome. Phylogenetic analysis based on the nucleotide sequences of fusion protein (F), hemagglutinin-neuraminidase protein (HN) and complete polyprotein showed that the virus belonged to sub-genotype VIg of class II NDV and is most closely related to pigeon NDVs in Egypt in the same year. The present study is the first that demonstrated isolation of NDV in dromedaries. Further study is warranted to investigate the relationship between NDV infection and abortion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jade Lee Lee Teng
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Carol Yu Centre for Infection, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ulrich Wernery
- Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Dubai 00000, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Hwei Huih Lee
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Sunitha Joseph
- Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Dubai 00000, United Arab Emirates
| | - Joshua Fung
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | | | - Kai Yan Yeong
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Joerg Kinne
- Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Dubai 00000, United Arab Emirates
| | - Kwok-Hung Chan
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Susanna Kar Pui Lau
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Carol Yu Centre for Infection, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Patrick Chiu Yat Woo
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- Carol Yu Centre for Infection, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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28
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Kandeil A, Gomaa M, Nageh A, Shehata MM, Kayed AE, Sabir JSM, Abiadh A, Jrijer J, Amr Z, Said MA, Byarugaba DK, Wabwire-Mangen F, Tugume T, Mohamed NS, Attar R, Hassan SM, Linjawi SA, Moatassim Y, Kutkat O, Mahmoud S, Bagato O, Shama NMA, El-Shesheny R, Mostafa A, Perera RA, Chu DK, Hassan N, Elsokary B, Saad A, Sobhy H, El Masry I, McKenzie PP, Webby RJ, Peiris M, Makonnen YJ, Ali MA, Kayali G. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Dromedary Camels in Africa and Middle East. Viruses 2019; 11:v11080717. [PMID: 31387326 PMCID: PMC6723520 DOI: 10.3390/v11080717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Revised: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Kandeil
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Virus, Environmental Research Division, National Research Centre, Giza 12622, Egypt
| | - Mokhtar Gomaa
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Virus, Environmental Research Division, National Research Centre, Giza 12622, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Nageh
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Virus, Environmental Research Division, National Research Centre, Giza 12622, Egypt
| | - Mahmoud M Shehata
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Virus, Environmental Research Division, National Research Centre, Giza 12622, Egypt
| | - Ahmed E Kayed
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Virus, Environmental Research Division, National Research Centre, Giza 12622, Egypt
| | - Jamal S M Sabir
- Center of excellence in Bionanoscience Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 80203, Saudi Arabia
- Biotechnology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 80203, Saudi Arabia
| | | | | | - Zuhair Amr
- Department of Biology, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan
| | - Mounir Abi Said
- Department of Life and Earth Sciences, Faculty of Sciences II, Lebanese University, Al Fanar 90656, Lebanon
| | - Denis K Byarugaba
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala 7062, Uganda
| | - Fred Wabwire-Mangen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala 7062, Uganda
| | - Titus Tugume
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala 7062, Uganda
| | - Nadira S Mohamed
- Department of Genebank and Genetic Sequence, Forensic DNA Research and Training Center, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad 10072, Iraq
| | - Roba Attar
- Department of Biological Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 80203, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sabah M Hassan
- Department of Biological Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 80203, Saudi Arabia
- Princess Doctor Najla Saud Al-Saud Distinguished Research Center for Biotechnology, Jeddah 22252, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11241, Egypt
| | | | - Yassmin Moatassim
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Virus, Environmental Research Division, National Research Centre, Giza 12622, Egypt
| | - Omnia Kutkat
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Virus, Environmental Research Division, National Research Centre, Giza 12622, Egypt
| | - Sara Mahmoud
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Virus, Environmental Research Division, National Research Centre, Giza 12622, Egypt
| | - Ola Bagato
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Virus, Environmental Research Division, National Research Centre, Giza 12622, Egypt
| | - Noura M Abo Shama
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Virus, Environmental Research Division, National Research Centre, Giza 12622, Egypt
| | - Rabeh El-Shesheny
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Virus, Environmental Research Division, National Research Centre, Giza 12622, Egypt
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis TN 38105, USA
| | - Ahmed Mostafa
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Virus, Environmental Research Division, National Research Centre, Giza 12622, Egypt
| | - Ranawaka Apm Perera
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, 7 Sassoon Rd, Hong Kong, China
| | - Daniel Kw Chu
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, 7 Sassoon Rd, Hong Kong, China
| | - Nagla Hassan
- General Organizations of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Nadi Saed St. 1, Dokki, Giza 12618, Egypt
| | - Basma Elsokary
- General Organizations of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Nadi Saed St. 1, Dokki, Giza 12618, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Saad
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Emergency Center for Transboundary, Animal Diseases, Dokki, Giza 12611, Egypt
| | - Heba Sobhy
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Emergency Center for Transboundary, Animal Diseases, Dokki, Giza 12611, Egypt
| | - Ihab El Masry
- Animal Health Services (AGAH), Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), Dokki, Giza 12611, Egypt
| | - Pamela P McKenzie
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis TN 38105, USA
| | - Richard J Webby
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis TN 38105, USA
| | - Malik Peiris
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, 7 Sassoon Rd, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yilma J Makonnen
- Animal Health Services (AGAH), Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), Dokki, Giza 12611, Egypt
| | - Mohamed A Ali
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Virus, Environmental Research Division, National Research Centre, Giza 12622, Egypt.
- Center of excellence in Bionanoscience Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 80203, Saudi Arabia.
- Biotechnology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 80203, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Ghazi Kayali
- Human Link, Hazmieh 1109, Lebanon.
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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29
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Shirato K, Melaku SK, Kawachi K, Nao N, Iwata-Yoshikawa N, Kawase M, Kamitani W, Matsuyama S, Tessema TS, Sentsui H. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus in Dromedaries in Ethiopia Is Antigenically Different From the Middle East Isolate EMC. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1326. [PMID: 31275264 PMCID: PMC6593072 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is an emerging respiratory disease caused by the MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV). MERS has been endemic to Saudi Arabia since 2012. The reservoir of MERS-CoV is the dromedary camel, suggesting that MERS is primarily a zoonotic disease. MERS-CoV is common in dromedaries throughout the Middle East, North Africa, and East Africa as evidenced by neutralizing antibodies against MERS-CoV; however, human cases have remained limited to the Middle East. To better understand the cause of this difference, the virological properties of African camel MERS-CoV were analyzed based on the spike (S) protein in Ethiopia. Nasal swabs were collected from 258 young dromedaries (≤ 2 years old) in the Afar region of Ethiopia, of which 39 were positive for MERS-CoV, as confirmed by genetic tests. All positive tests were exclusive to the Amibara woreda region. Using next-generation sequencing, two full-length genomes of Amibara isolates were successfully decoded; both isolates belonged to the C2 clade based on phylogenetic analysis of full-length and S protein sequences. Recombinant EMC isolates of MERS-CoV, in which the S protein is replaced with those of Amibara isolates, were then generated to test the roles of these proteins in viral properties. Amibara S recombinants replicated more slowly in cultured cells than in EMC S recombinants. In neutralizing assays, Amibara S recombinants were neutralized by lower concentrations of sera from both Ethiopian dromedaries and EMC isolate (wild-type)-immunized mouse sera, relative to the EMC S recombinants, indicating that viruses coated in the Amibara S protein were easier to neutralize than the EMC S protein. Neutralization experiments performed using S1/S2 chimeric recombinants of the EMC and Amibara S proteins showed that the neutralization profile was dependent on the S1 region of the S protein. These results suggest that the slower viral replication and the ease of neutralization seen in the Ethiopian MERS-CoV are due to strain-specific differences in the S protein and may account for the absence of human MERS-CoV cases in Ethiopia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuya Shirato
- Department of Virology III, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Musashimurayama, Japan
| | - Simenew Keskes Melaku
- Department of Biotechnology, Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Kengo Kawachi
- Laboratory of Clinical Research on Infectious Diseases, Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Naganori Nao
- Department of Virology III, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Musashimurayama, Japan
| | - Naoko Iwata-Yoshikawa
- Department of Pathology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Musashimurayama, Japan
| | - Miyuki Kawase
- Department of Virology III, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Musashimurayama, Japan
| | - Wataru Kamitani
- Laboratory of Clinical Research on Infectious Diseases, Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Shutoku Matsuyama
- Department of Virology III, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Musashimurayama, Japan
| | | | - Hiroshi Sentsui
- Laboratory of Veterinary Epizootiology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Nihon University, Fujisawa, Japan
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30
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Dighe A, Jombart T, Van Kerkhove MD, Ferguson N. A systematic review of MERS-CoV seroprevalence and RNA prevalence in dromedary camels: Implications for animal vaccination. Epidemics 2019; 29:100350. [PMID: 31201040 PMCID: PMC6899506 DOI: 10.1016/j.epidem.2019.100350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Revised: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Most adult dromedaries in Africa and the Middle East have been infected with MERS-CoV. Seroprevalence increases with age, while active infection is more common in calves. Prevalence is higher at sites where different dromedary populations mix. Further study is needed to determine if prevalence of infection varies seasonally.
Human infection with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is driven by recurring dromedary-to-human spill-over events, leading decision-makers to consider dromedary vaccination. Dromedary vaccine candidates in the development pipeline are showing hopeful results, but gaps in our understanding of the epidemiology of MERS-CoV in dromedaries must be addressed to design and evaluate potential vaccination strategies. We aim to bring together existing measures of MERS-CoV infection in dromedary camels to assess the distribution of infection, highlighting knowledge gaps and implications for animal vaccination. We systematically reviewed the published literature on MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science that reported seroprevalence and/or prevalence of active MERS-CoV infection in dromedary camels from both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. 60 studies met our eligibility criteria. Qualitative syntheses determined that MERS-CoV seroprevalence increased with age up to 80–100% in adult dromedaries supporting geographically widespread endemicity of MERS-CoV in dromedaries in both the Arabian Peninsula and countries exporting dromedaries from Africa. The high prevalence of active infection measured in juveniles and at sites where dromedary populations mix should guide further investigation – particularly of dromedary movement – and inform vaccination strategy design and evaluation through mathematical modelling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Dighe
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Medical School Building, St Mary's Hospital, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom.
| | - Thibaut Jombart
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Medical School Building, St Mary's Hospital, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom; Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, Bloomsbury, London, WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; UK Public Health Rapid Support Team, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom.
| | - Maria D Van Kerkhove
- Department of Global Infectious Hazards Management, Health Emergencies Program, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, CH-1211, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Neil Ferguson
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Medical School Building, St Mary's Hospital, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom.
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31
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Zhu S, Zimmerman D, Deem SL. A Review of Zoonotic Pathogens of Dromedary Camels. ECOHEALTH 2019; 16:356-377. [PMID: 31140075 PMCID: PMC7087575 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-019-01413-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Revised: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Dromedary, or one-humped, camels Camelus dromedarius are an almost exclusively domesticated species that are common in arid areas as both beasts of burden and production animals for meat and milk. Currently, there are approximately 30 million dromedary camels, with highest numbers in Africa and the Middle East. The hardiness of camels in arid regions has made humans more dependent on them, especially as a stable protein source. Camels also carry and may transmit disease-causing agents to humans and other animals. The ability for camels to act as a point source or vector for disease is a concern due to increasing human demands for meat, lack of biosafety and biosecurity protocols in many regions, and a growth in the interface with wildlife as camel herds become sympatric with non-domestic species. We conducted a literature review of camel-borne zoonotic diseases and found that the majority of publications (65%) focused on Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), brucellosis, Echinococcus granulosus, and Rift Valley fever. The high fatality from MERS outbreaks during 2012-2016 elicited an immediate response from the research community as demonstrated by a surge of MERS-related publications. However, we contend that other camel-borne diseases such as Yersinia pestis, Coxiella burnetii, and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever are just as important to include in surveillance efforts. Camel populations, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, are increasing exponentially in response to prolonged droughts, and thus, the risk of zoonoses increases as well. In this review, we provide an overview of the major zoonotic diseases present in dromedary camels, their risk to humans, and recommendations to minimize spillover events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Zhu
- Graduate Group in Epidemiology, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
| | - Dawn Zimmerman
- Global Health Program, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC, 20008, USA
| | - Sharon L Deem
- Institute for Conservation Medicine, Saint Louis Zoo, Saint Louis, MO, 63110, USA
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32
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Khudhair A, Killerby ME, Al Mulla M, Abou Elkheir K, Ternanni W, Bandar Z, Weber S, Khoury M, Donnelly G, Al Muhairi S, Khalafalla AI, Trivedi S, Tamin A, Thornburg NJ, Watson JT, Gerber SI, Al Hosani F, Hall AJ. Risk Factors for MERS-CoV Seropositivity among Animal Market and Slaughterhouse Workers, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 2014-2017. Emerg Infect Dis 2019; 25:927-935. [PMID: 31002068 PMCID: PMC6478233 DOI: 10.3201/eid2505.181728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Camel contact is a recognized risk factor for Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection. Because specific camel exposures associated with MERS-CoV seropositivity are not fully understood, we investigated worker-camel interactions and MERS-CoV seroprevalence. We assessed worker seroprevalence in 2 slaughterhouses and 1 live-animal market in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, during 2014-2017 and administered an epidemiologic survey in 2016 and 2017. Across 3 sampling rounds during 2014-2017, we sampled 100-235 workers, and 6%-19% were seropositive for MERS-CoV at each sampling round. One (1.4%) of 70 seronegative workers tested at multiple rounds seroconverted. On multivariable analyses, working as a camel salesman, handling live camels or their waste, and having diabetes were associated with seropositivity among all workers, whereas handling live camels and either administering medications or cleaning equipment was associated with seropositivity among market workers. Characterization of high-risk exposures is critical for implementation of preventive measures.
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33
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Mirkena T, Walelign E, Tewolde N, Gari G, Abebe G, Newman S. Camel production systems in Ethiopia: a review of literature with notes on MERS-CoV risk factors. PASTORALISM : RESEARCH, POLICY AND PRACTICE 2018; 8:30. [PMID: 32226597 PMCID: PMC7099212 DOI: 10.1186/s13570-018-0135-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2018] [Accepted: 11/09/2018] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Camels are the most adapted species to the harsh conditions of arid/semi-arid rangelands of Ethiopia where pastoralism is the dominant mode of life and mobility is an inherent strategy to efficiently utilize the spatially and temporally distributed pasture and water resources. Usually, large numbers of camels and other domestic animals from many different herds/flocks congregate at watering sites, and this may create a perfect condition for disease transmission and spread among animals. The same water sources are also shared by multitudes of wild animals. Camel herd sizes per household range from few heads (five to ten) to several hundreds. Female camels account for more than 75% of the herd. Male camels are usually sold early as pack animals or for slaughter. Female camels may remain fertile up to 25 years, during which time they produce eight to ten calves. Camels are herded during daytime on communal rangelands. During night, they are kept in traditional kraals around homesteads. Breeding time is short and seasonal and is affected by rainfall patterns and feed availability. Usually, only men milk camels. Milking frequency ranges from two to five times per day. Washing of hands, milking vessels, the udder and teats is not practised by many prior to milking the camels. Besides, the milking area is generally full of dust and dung and without shade. This affects the quality and safety of the produced milk. Pathogens and diseases of camelids are less well known; however, they are suspected as zoonotic sources for the human infection with the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus. There is an increasing need to determine whether camels are clinically susceptible, act as potential reservoirs and maintenance or bridge hosts, to viral pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadele Mirkena
- Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Elias Walelign
- Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Nega Tewolde
- Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Getachew Gari
- Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Getachew Abebe
- Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Scott Newman
- 2Regional Office for Africa, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Accra, Ghana
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34
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MERS: Progress on the global response, remaining challenges and the way forward. Antiviral Res 2018; 159:35-44. [PMID: 30236531 PMCID: PMC7113883 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2018.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
This article summarizes progress in research on Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) since a FAO-OIE-WHO Global Technical Meeting held at WHO Headquarters in Geneva on 25-27 September 2017. The meeting reviewed the latest scientific findings and identified and prioritized the global activities necessary to prevent, manage and control the disease. Critical needs for research and technical guidance identified during the meeting have been used to update the WHO R&D MERS-CoV Roadmap for diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines and a broader public health research agenda. Since the 2017 meeting, progress has been made on several key actions in animal populations, at the animal/human interface and in human populations. This report also summarizes the latest scientific studies on MERS since 2017, including data from more than 50 research studies examining the presence of MERS-CoV infection in dromedary camels.
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35
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Countrywide Survey for MERS-Coronavirus Antibodies in Dromedaries and Humans in Pakistan. Virol Sin 2018; 33:410-417. [PMID: 30311100 PMCID: PMC6235758 DOI: 10.1007/s12250-018-0051-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a zoonotic pathogen capable of causing severe respiratory disease in humans. Although dromedary camels are considered as a major reservoir host, the MERS-CoV infection dynamics in camels are not fully understood. Through surveillance in Pakistan, nasal (n = 776) and serum (n = 1050) samples were collected from camels between November 2015 and February 2018. Samples were collected from animal markets, free-roaming herds and abattoirs. An in-house ELISA was developed to detect IgG against MERS-CoV. A total of 794 camels were found seropositive for MERS-CoV. Prevalence increased with the age and the highest seroprevalence was recorded in camels aged > 10 years (81.37%) followed by those aged 3.1-10 years (78.65%) and ≤ 3 years (58.19%). Higher prevalence was observed in female (78.13%) as compared to male (70.70%). Of the camel nasal swabs, 22 were found to be positive by RT-qPCR though with high Ct values. Moreover, 2,409 human serum samples were also collected from four provinces of Pakistan during 2016-2017. Among the sampled population, 840 humans were camel herders. Although we found a high rate of MERS-CoV antibody positive dromedaries (75.62%) in Pakistan, no neutralizing antibodies were detected in humans with and without contact to camels.
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36
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Conzade R, Grant R, Malik MR, Elkholy A, Elhakim M, Samhouri D, Ben Embarek PK, Van Kerkhove MD. Reported Direct and Indirect Contact with Dromedary Camels among Laboratory-Confirmed MERS-CoV Cases. Viruses 2018; 10:v10080425. [PMID: 30104551 PMCID: PMC6115845 DOI: 10.3390/v10080425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2018] [Revised: 07/30/2018] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) are now known to be the vertebrate animal reservoir that intermittently transmits the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) to humans. Yet, details as to the specific mechanism(s) of zoonotic transmission from dromedaries to humans remain unclear. The aim of this study was to describe direct and indirect contact with dromedaries among all cases, and then separately for primary, non-primary, and unclassified cases of laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) between 1 January 2015 and 13 April 2018. We present any reported dromedary contact: direct, indirect, and type of indirect contact. Of all 1125 laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV cases reported to WHO during the time period, there were 348 (30.9%) primary cases, 455 (40.4%) non-primary cases, and 322 (28.6%) unclassified cases. Among primary cases, 191 (54.9%) reported contact with dromedaries: 164 (47.1%) reported direct contact, 155 (44.5%) reported indirect contact. Five (1.1%) non-primary cases also reported contact with dromedaries. Overall, unpasteurized milk was the most frequent type of dromedary product consumed. Among cases for whom exposure was systematically collected and reported to WHO, contact with dromedaries or dromedary products has played an important role in zoonotic transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romy Conzade
- Department of Infectious Hazard Management, Health Emergencies Programme, World Health Organization, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland.
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Institute of Epidemiology, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany.
| | - Rebecca Grant
- Department of Infectious Hazard Management, Health Emergencies Programme, World Health Organization, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland.
- Institut Pasteur, Centre for Global Health Research and Education, 75015 Paris, France.
| | - Mamunur Rahman Malik
- Department of Infectious Hazard Management, Health Emergencies Programme, World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, 11371 Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Amgad Elkholy
- Department of Infectious Hazard Management, Health Emergencies Programme, World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, 11371 Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Mohamed Elhakim
- Department of Infectious Hazard Management, Health Emergencies Programme, World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, 11371 Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Dalia Samhouri
- Department of Country Preparedness and International Health Regulations, World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, 11371 Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Peter K Ben Embarek
- Department of Food Safety and Zoonoses, World Health Organization, 1201 Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Maria D Van Kerkhove
- Department of Infectious Hazard Management, Health Emergencies Programme, World Health Organization, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland.
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37
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Woo PCY, Lau SKP, Chen Y, Wong EYM, Chan KH, Chen H, Zhang L, Xia N, Yuen KY. Rapid detection of MERS coronavirus-like viruses in bats: pote1ntial for tracking MERS coronavirus transmission and animal origin. Emerg Microbes Infect 2018; 7:18. [PMID: 29511173 PMCID: PMC5841240 DOI: 10.1038/s41426-017-0016-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2017] [Revised: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Recently, we developed a monoclonal antibody-based rapid nucleocapsid protein detection assay for diagnosis of MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in humans and dromedary camels. In this study, we examined the usefulness of this assay to detect other lineage C betacoronaviruses closely related to MERS-CoV in bats. The rapid MERS-CoV nucleocapsid protein detection assay was tested positive in 24 (88.9%) of 27 Tylonycteris bat CoV HKU4 (Ty-BatCoV-HKU4) RNA-positive alimentary samples of Tylonycteris pachypus and 4 (19.0%) of 21 Pipistrellus bat CoV HKU5 (Pi-BatCoV-HKU5) RNA-positive alimentary samples of Pipistrellus abramus. There was significantly more Ty-BatCoV-HKU4 RNA-positive alimentary samples than Pi-BatCoV-HKU5 RNA-positive alimentary samples that were tested positive by the rapid MERS-CoV nucleocapsid protein detection assay (P < 0.001 by Chi-square test). The rapid assay was tested negative in all 51 alimentary samples RNA-positive for alphacoronaviruses (Rhinolophus bat CoV HKU2, Myotis bat CoV HKU6, Miniopterus bat CoV HKU8 and Hipposideros batCoV HKU10) and 32 alimentary samples positive for lineage B (SARS-related Rhinolophus bat CoV HKU3) and lineage D (Rousettus bat CoV HKU9) betacoronaviruses. No significant difference was observed between the viral loads of Ty-BatCoV-HKU4/Pi-BatCoV-HKU5 RNA-positive alimentary samples that were tested positive and negative by the rapid test (Mann-Witney U test). The rapid MERS-CoV nucleocapsid protein detection assay is able to rapidly detect lineage C betacoronaviruses in bats. It detected significantly more Ty-BatCoV-HKU4 than Pi-BatCoV-HKU5 because MERS-CoV is more closely related to Ty-BatCoV-HKU4 than Pi-BatCoV-HKU5. This assay will facilitate rapid on-site mass screening of animal samples for ancestors of MERS-CoV and tracking transmission in the related bat species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick C Y Woo
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. .,Research Centre of Infection and Immunology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. .,Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. .,Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Susanna K P Lau
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. .,Research Centre of Infection and Immunology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. .,Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. .,Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Yixin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics & National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, Fujian, China
| | - Emily Y M Wong
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kwok-Hung Chan
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Honglin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Research Centre of Infection and Immunology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Libiao Zhang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Guangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resources, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ningshao Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics & National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, Fujian, China
| | - Kwok-Yung Yuen
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Research Centre of Infection and Immunology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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38
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Saqib M, Sieberg A, Hussain MH, Mansoor MK, Zohaib A, Lattwein E, Müller MA, Drosten C, Corman VM. Serologic Evidence for MERS-CoV Infection in Dromedary Camels, Punjab, Pakistan, 2012-2015. Emerg Infect Dis 2018; 23:550-551. [PMID: 28221127 PMCID: PMC5382745 DOI: 10.3201/eid2303.161285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Dromedary camels from Africa and Arabia are an established source for zoonotic Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection among humans. In Pakistan, we found specific neutralizing antibodies in samples from 39.5% of 565 dromedaries, documenting significant expansion of the enzootic range of MERS-CoV to Asia.
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39
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Dudas G, Carvalho LM, Rambaut A, Bedford T. MERS-CoV spillover at the camel-human interface. eLife 2018; 7:e31257. [PMID: 29336306 PMCID: PMC5777824 DOI: 10.7554/elife.31257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a zoonotic virus from camels causing significant mortality and morbidity in humans in the Arabian Peninsula. The epidemiology of the virus remains poorly understood, and while case-based and seroepidemiological studies have been employed extensively throughout the epidemic, viral sequence data have not been utilised to their full potential. Here, we use existing MERS-CoV sequence data to explore its phylodynamics in two of its known major hosts, humans and camels. We employ structured coalescent models to show that long-term MERS-CoV evolution occurs exclusively in camels, whereas humans act as a transient, and ultimately terminal host. By analysing the distribution of human outbreak cluster sizes and zoonotic introduction times, we show that human outbreaks in the Arabian peninsula are driven by seasonally varying zoonotic transfer of viruses from camels. Without heretofore unseen evolution of host tropism, MERS-CoV is unlikely to become endemic in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gytis Dudas
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease DivisionFred Hutchinson Cancer Research CenterSeattleUnited States
| | - Luiz Max Carvalho
- Institute of Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
| | - Andrew Rambaut
- Institute of Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
- Fogarty International CenterNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - Trevor Bedford
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease DivisionFred Hutchinson Cancer Research CenterSeattleUnited States
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40
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Yusof MF, Queen K, Eltahir YM, Paden CR, Al Hammadi ZMAH, Tao Y, Li Y, Khalafalla AI, Shi M, Zhang J, Mohamed MSAE, Abd Elaal Ahmed MH, Azeez IA, Bensalah OK, Eldahab ZS, Al Hosani FI, Gerber SI, Hall AJ, Tong S, Al Muhairi SS. Diversity of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronaviruses in 109 dromedary camels based on full-genome sequencing, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Emerg Microbes Infect 2017; 6:e101. [PMID: 29116217 PMCID: PMC5717090 DOI: 10.1038/emi.2017.89] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2017] [Revised: 09/08/2017] [Accepted: 09/15/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was identified on the Arabian Peninsula in 2012 and is still causing cases and outbreaks in the Middle East. When MERS-CoV was first identified, the closest related virus was in bats; however, it has since been recognized that dromedary camels serve as a virus reservoir and potential source for human infections. A total of 376 camels were screened for MERS-Cov at a live animal market in the Eastern Region of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, UAE. In all, 109 MERS-CoV-positive camels were detected in week 1, and a subset of positive camels were sampled again weeks 3 through 6. A total of 126 full and 3 nearly full genomes were obtained from 139 samples. Spike gene sequences were obtained from 5 of the 10 remaining samples. The camel MERS-CoV genomes from this study represent 3 known and 2 potentially new lineages within clade B. Within lineages, diversity of camel and human MERS-CoV sequences are intermixed. We identified sequences from market camels nearly identical to the previously reported 2015 German case who visited the market during his incubation period. We described 10 recombination events in the camel samples. The most frequent recombination breakpoint was the junctions between ORF1b and S. Evidence suggests MERS-CoV infection in humans results from continued introductions of distinct MERS-CoV lineages from camels. This hypothesis is supported by the camel MERS-CoV genomes sequenced in this study. Our study expands the known repertoire of camel MERS-CoVs circulating on the Arabian Peninsula.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Krista Queen
- Division of Viral Diseases, National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Oak Ridge Associated Universities Fellow, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
| | | | - Clinton R Paden
- Division of Viral Diseases, National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Oak Ridge Associated Universities Fellow, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
| | | | - Ying Tao
- Division of Viral Diseases, National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Yan Li
- Division of Viral Diseases, National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Mang Shi
- University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jing Zhang
- Division of Viral Diseases, National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
- IHRC Inc., Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Susan I Gerber
- Division of Viral Diseases, National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Aron J Hall
- Division of Viral Diseases, National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Suxiang Tong
- Division of Viral Diseases, National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
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41
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Retrospective, epidemiological cluster analysis of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) epidemic using open source data. Epidemiol Infect 2017; 145:3106-3114. [PMID: 29061208 DOI: 10.1017/s0950268817002345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is caused by a novel coronavirus discovered in 2012. Since then, 1806 cases, including 564 deaths, have been reported by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and affected countries as of 1 June 2016. Previous literature attributed increases in MERS-CoV transmission to camel breeding season as camels are likely the reservoir for the virus. However, this literature review and subsequent analysis indicate a lack of seasonality. A retrospective, epidemiological cluster analysis was conducted to investigate increases in MERS-CoV transmission and reports of household and nosocomial clusters. Cases were verified and associations between cases were substantiated through an extensive literature review and the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch's Tiered Source Classification System. A total of 51 clusters were identified, primarily nosocomial (80·4%) and most occurred in KSA (45·1%). Clusters corresponded temporally with the majority of periods of greatest incidence, suggesting a strong correlation between nosocomial transmission and notable increases in cases.
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42
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Muth D, Meyer B, Niemeyer D, Schroeder S, Osterrieder N, Müller MA, Drosten C. Transgene expression in the genome of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus based on a novel reverse genetics system utilizing Red-mediated recombination cloning. J Gen Virol 2017; 98:2461-2469. [PMID: 28984231 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.000919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a high-priority pathogen in pandemic preparedness research. Reverse genetics systems are a valuable tool to study viral replication and pathogenesis, design attenuated vaccines and create defined viral assay systems for applications such as antiviral screening. Here we present a novel reverse genetics system for MERS-CoV that involves maintenance of the full-length viral genome as a cDNA copy inserted in a bacterial artificial chromosome amenable to manipulation by homologue recombination, based on the bacteriophage λ Red recombination system. Based on a full-length infectious MERS-CoV cDNA clone, optimal genomic insertion sites and expression strategies for GFP were identified and used to generate a reporter MERS-CoV expressing GFP in addition to the complete set of viral proteins. GFP was genetically fused to the N-terminal part of protein 4a, from which it is released during translation via porcine teschovirus 2A peptide activity. The resulting reporter virus achieved titres nearly identical to the wild-type virus 48 h after infection of Vero cells at m.o.i. 0.001 (1×105 p.f.u. ml-1 and 3×105 p.f.u. ml-1, respectively), and allowed determination of the 50 % inhibitory concentration for the known MERS-CoV inhibitor cyclosporine A based on fluorescence readout. The resulting value was 2.41 µM, which corresponds to values based on wild-type virus. The reverse genetics system described herein can be efficiently mutated by Red-mediated recombination. The GFP-expressing reporter virus contains the full set of MERS-CoV proteins and achieves wild-type titres in cell culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doreen Muth
- Institute of Virology, Helmut-Ruska-Haus, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.,Institute of Virology, University of Bonn Medical Centre, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, 53127 Bonn, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Inhoffenstraße 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Benjamin Meyer
- Institute of Virology, University of Bonn Medical Centre, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Daniela Niemeyer
- Institute of Virology, Helmut-Ruska-Haus, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.,Institute of Virology, University of Bonn Medical Centre, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Simon Schroeder
- Institute of Virology, Helmut-Ruska-Haus, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.,Institute of Virology, University of Bonn Medical Centre, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Nikolaus Osterrieder
- Institut für Virologie, Robert von Ostertag-Haus, Zentrum für Infektionsmedizin, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7-13, 14163 Berlin, Germany
| | - Marcel Alexander Müller
- Institute of Virology, Helmut-Ruska-Haus, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.,Institute of Virology, University of Bonn Medical Centre, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Christian Drosten
- Institute of Virology, University of Bonn Medical Centre, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, 53127 Bonn, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Inhoffenstraße 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany.,Institute of Virology, Helmut-Ruska-Haus, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
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43
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Abstract
Since the identification of the first patients with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in 2012, over 1,600 cases have been reported as of February 2016. Most cases have occurred in Saudi Arabia or in other countries on or near the Arabian Peninsula, but travel-associated cases have also been seen in countries outside the Arabian Peninsula. MERS-CoV causes a severe respiratory illness in many patients, with a case fatality rate as high as 40%, although when contacts are investigated, a significant proportion of patients are asymptomatic or only have mild symptoms. At this time, no vaccines or treatments are available. Epidemiological and other data suggest that the source of most primary cases is exposure to camels. Person-to-person transmission occurs in household and health care settings, although sustained and efficient person-to-person transmission has not been observed. Strict adherence to infection control recommendations has been associated with control of previous outbreaks. Vigilance is needed because genomic changes in MERS-CoV could result in increased transmissibility, similar to what was seen in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV).
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44
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Hemida MG, Alnaeem A, Chu DK, Perera RA, Chan SM, Almathen F, Yau E, Ng BC, Webby RJ, Poon LL, Peiris M. Longitudinal study of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus infection in dromedary camel herds in Saudi Arabia, 2014-2015. Emerg Microbes Infect 2017. [PMID: 28634355 PMCID: PMC5520318 DOI: 10.1038/emi.2017.44] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Two herds of dromedary camels were longitudinally sampled with nasal and rectal swabs and serum, between September 2014 and May 2015, and the samples were tested for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus RNA and antibodies. Evidence of MERS-CoV infection was confirmed in one herd on the basis of detection of virus RNA in nasal swabs from three camels and significant increases in the antibody titers from three others. The three viruses were genetically identical, thus indicating introduction of a single virus into this herd. There was evidence of reinfection of camels that were previously seropositive, thus suggesting that prior infection does not provide complete immunity from reinfection, a finding that is relevant to camel vaccination strategies as a means to prevent zoonotic transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maged Gomaa Hemida
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Alhufuf, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh 33516, Egypt
| | - Abdulmohsen Alnaeem
- Department of Clinical Studies, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Alhufuf, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
| | - Daniel Kw Chu
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | | | - Samuel Ms Chan
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Faisal Almathen
- Department of Public Health and Animal Welfare, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Alhufuf, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
| | - Emily Yau
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Brian Cy Ng
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Richard J Webby
- Division of Virology, Department of Infectious Diseases, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Leo Lm Poon
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Malik Peiris
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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45
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Mouse-adapted MERS coronavirus causes lethal lung disease in human DPP4 knockin mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:E3119-E3128. [PMID: 28348219 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1619109114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) emerged in Saudi Arabia in 2012, caused by a zoonotically transmitted coronavirus (CoV). Over 1,900 cases have been reported to date, with ∼36% fatality rate. Lack of autopsies from MERS cases has hindered understanding of MERS-CoV pathogenesis. A small animal model that develops progressive pulmonary manifestations when infected with MERS-CoV would advance the field. As mice are restricted to infection at the level of DPP4, the MERS-CoV receptor, we generated mice with humanized exons 10-12 of the mouse Dpp4 locus. Upon inoculation with MERS-CoV, human DPP4 knockin (KI) mice supported virus replication in the lungs, but developed no illness. After 30 serial passages through the lungs of KI mice, a mouse-adapted virus emerged (MERSMA) that grew in lungs to over 100 times higher titers than the starting virus. A plaque-purified MERSMA clone caused weight loss and fatal infection. Virus antigen was observed in airway epithelia, pneumocytes, and macrophages. Pathologic findings included diffuse alveolar damage with pulmonary edema and hyaline membrane formation associated with accumulation of activated inflammatory monocyte-macrophages and neutrophils in the lungs. Relative to the parental MERS-CoV, MERSMA viruses contained 13-22 mutations, including several within the spike (S) glycoprotein gene. S-protein mutations sensitized viruses to entry-activating serine proteases and conferred more rapid entry kinetics. Recombinant MERSMA bearing mutant S proteins were more virulent than the parental virus in hDPP4 KI mice. The hDPP4 KI mouse and the MERSMA provide tools to investigate disease causes and develop new therapies.
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46
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Wernery U, Lau SKP, Woo PCY. Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus and dromedaries. Vet J 2017; 220:75-79. [PMID: 28190501 PMCID: PMC7110516 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2016.12.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2016] [Revised: 12/22/2016] [Accepted: 12/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a zoonotic viral disease transmissible from dromedaries to human beings. MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection in dromedaries is usually asymptomatic but mild respiratory signs may occur. No MERS-CoV or antibodies against the virus have been detected in camelids other than dromedaries. Dromedaries acquire MERS-CoV at less than 1 year of age and 100% of adult dromedaries are seropositive for the virus. MERS-CoV in dromedaries is detected by virus isolation, quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR or antigen detection.
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a zoonotic viral disease that can be transmitted from dromedaries to human beings. More than 1500 cases of MERS have been reported in human beings to date. Although MERS has been associated with 30% case fatality in human beings, MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection in dromedaries is usually asymptomatic. In rare cases, dromedaries may develop mild respiratory signs. No MERS-CoV or antibodies against the virus have been detected in camelids other than dromedaries. MERS-CoV is mainly acquired in dromedaries when they are less than 1 year of age, and the proportion of seropositivity increases with age to a seroprevalence of 100% in adult dromedaries. Laboratory diagnosis of MERS-CoV infection in dromedaries can be achieved through virus isolation using Vero cells, RNA detection by real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR and antigen detection using respiratory specimens or serum. Rapid nucleocapsid antigen detection using a lateral flow platform allows efficient screening of dromedaries carrying MERS-CoV. In addition to MERS-CoV, which is a lineage C virus in the Betacoronavirus (betaCoV) genus, a lineage B betaCoV and a virus in the Alphacoronavirus (alphaCoV) genus have been detected in dromedaries. Dromedary CoV UAE-HKU23 is closely related to human CoV OC43, whereas the alphaCoV has not been detected in human beings to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrich Wernery
- Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Susanna K P Lau
- Department of Microbiology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Patrick C Y Woo
- Department of Microbiology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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47
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Systematic, active surveillance for Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus in camels in Egypt. Emerg Microbes Infect 2017; 6:e1. [PMID: 28050021 PMCID: PMC5285495 DOI: 10.1038/emi.2016.130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2016] [Revised: 10/26/2016] [Accepted: 10/31/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) causes severe human infections and dromedary camels are considered an intermediary host. The dynamics of natural infection in camels are not well understood. Through systematic surveillance in Egypt, nasal, rectal, milk, urine and serum samples were collected from camels between June 2014 and February 2016. Locations included quarantines, markets, abattoirs, free-roaming herds and farmed breeding herds. The overall seroprevalence was 71% and RNA detection rate was 15%. Imported camels had higher seroprevalence (90% vs 61%) and higher RT-PCR detection rates (21% vs 12%) than locally raised camels. Juveniles had lower seroprevalence than adults (37% vs 82%) but similar RT-PCR detection rates (16% vs 15%). An outbreak in a breeding herd, showed that antibodies rapidly wane, that camels become re-infected, and that outbreaks in a herd are sustained for an extended time. Maternal antibodies titers were very low in calves regardless of the antibody titers of the mothers. Our results support the hypothesis that camels are a reservoir for MERS-CoV and that camel trade is an important route of introducing the virus into importing countries. Findings related to waning antibodies and re-infection have implications for camel vaccine development, disease management and zoonotic threat.
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48
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Lau SKP, Wernery R, Wong EYM, Joseph S, Tsang AKL, Patteril NAG, Elizabeth SK, Chan KH, Muhammed R, Kinne J, Yuen KY, Wernery U, Woo PCY. Polyphyletic origin of MERS coronaviruses and isolation of a novel clade A strain from dromedary camels in the United Arab Emirates. Emerg Microbes Infect 2016; 5:e128. [PMID: 27999424 PMCID: PMC5180373 DOI: 10.1038/emi.2016.129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2016] [Revised: 09/23/2016] [Accepted: 10/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Little is known regarding the molecular epidemiology of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) circulating in dromedaries outside Saudi Arabia. To address this knowledge gap, we sequenced 10 complete genomes of MERS-CoVs isolated from 2 live and 8 dead dromedaries from different regions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Phylogenetic analysis revealed one novel clade A strain, the first detected in the UAE, and nine clade B strains. Strain D998/15 had a distinct phylogenetic position within clade A, being more closely related to the dromedary isolate NRCE-HKU205 from Egypt than to the human isolates EMC/2012 and Jordan-N3/2012. A comparison of predicted protein sequences also demonstrated the existence of two clade A lineages with unique amino acid substitutions, A1 (EMC/2012 and Jordan-N3/2012) and A2 (D998/15 and NRCE-HKU205), circulating in humans and camels, respectively. The nine clade B isolates belong to three distinct lineages: B1, B3 and B5. Two B3 strains, D1271/15 and D1189.1/15, showed evidence of recombination between lineages B4 and B5 in ORF1ab. Molecular clock analysis dated the time of the most recent common ancestor (tMRCA) of clade A to March 2011 and that of clade B to November 2011. Our data support a polyphyletic origin of MERS-CoV in dromedaries and the co-circulation of diverse MERS-CoVs including recombinant strains in the UAE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna K P Lau
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Research Centre of Infection and Immunology, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Renate Wernery
- Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, PO Box 597, Dubai, UAE
| | - Emily Y M Wong
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Sunitha Joseph
- Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, PO Box 597, Dubai, UAE
| | - Alan K L Tsang
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | | | | | - Kwok-Hung Chan
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | | | - Jöerg Kinne
- Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, PO Box 597, Dubai, UAE
| | - Kwok-Yung Yuen
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Research Centre of Infection and Immunology, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ulrich Wernery
- Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, PO Box 597, Dubai, UAE
| | - Patrick C Y Woo
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Research Centre of Infection and Immunology, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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49
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Omrani AS, Al-Tawfiq JA, Memish ZA. Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV): animal to human interaction. Pathog Glob Health 2016; 109:354-62. [PMID: 26924345 PMCID: PMC4809235 DOI: 10.1080/20477724.2015.1122852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a novel enzootic betacoronavirus that was first described in September 2012. The clinical spectrum of MERS-CoV infection in humans ranges from an asymptomatic or mild respiratory illness to severe pneumonia and multi-organ failure; overall mortality is around 35.7%. Bats harbour several betacoronaviruses that are closely related to MERS-CoV but more research is needed to establish the relationship between bats and MERS-CoV. The seroprevalence of MERS-CoV antibodies is very high in dromedary camels in Eastern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. MERS-CoV RNA and viable virus have been isolated from dromedary camels, including some with respiratory symptoms. Furthermore, near-identical strains of MERS-CoV have been isolated from epidemiologically linked humans and camels, confirming inter-transmission, most probably from camels to humans. Though inter-human spread within health care settings is responsible for the majority of reported MERS-CoV cases, the virus is incapable at present of causing sustained human-to-human transmission. Clusters can be readily controlled with implementation of appropriate infection control procedures. Phylogenetic and sequencing data strongly suggest that MERS-CoV originated from bat ancestors after undergoing a recombination event in the spike protein, possibly in dromedary camels in Africa, before its exportation to the Arabian Peninsula along the camel trading routes. MERS-CoV serosurveys are needed to investigate possible unrecognized human infections in Africa. Amongst the important measures to control MERS-CoV spread are strict regulation of camel movement, regular herd screening and isolation of infected camels, use of personal protective equipment by camel handlers and enforcing rules banning all consumption of unpasteurized camel milk and urine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali S Omrani
- 1 Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre , Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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50
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Alharbi NK. Vaccines against Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus for humans and camels. Rev Med Virol 2016; 27. [PMID: 27786402 PMCID: PMC7169231 DOI: 10.1002/rmv.1917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2016] [Revised: 09/01/2016] [Accepted: 09/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS‐CoV) is caused by a novel betacoronavirus that was isolated in late 2012 in Saudi Arabia. The viral infections have been reported in more than 1700 humans, ranging from asymptomatic or mild cases to severe pneumonia with a mortality rate of 40%. It is well documented now that dromedary camels contract the infection and shed the virus without notable symptoms, and such animals had been infected by at least the early 1980s. The mechanism of camel to human transmission is still not clear, but several primary cases have been associated with camel contact. There is no approved antiviral drug or vaccine against MERS‐CoV despite the active research in this area. Vaccine candidates have been developed using various platforms and regimens and have been tested in several animal models. Here, this article reviews the published studies on MERS‐CoV vaccines with more focus on vaccines tested in large animals, including camels. It is foreseeable that the 1‐health approach could be the best way of tackling the MERS‐CoV endemic in the Arabian Peninsula, by using the mass vaccination of camels in the affected areas to block camel to human transmission. Camel vaccines can be developed in a faster time with fewer regulations and lower costs and could clear this virus from the Arabian Peninsula if accompanied by efficient public health measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naif Khalaf Alharbi
- Infectious Diseases Research Department, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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