Evidence for Camel-to-Human Transmission of MERS Coronavirus

Azhar, Esam I.; El‐Kafrawy, Sherif A.; Farraj, Suha A.; Hassan, Ahmed M.; Al-Saeed, Muneera S.; Hashem, Anwar M.; Madani, Tariq A.

doi:10.1056/nejmoa1401505

Cited by 793 publications

(772 citation statements)

References 14 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

734

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…For example, both the H5N1 and H7N9 subtypes of avian influenza virus have repeatedly spilled over from poultry to humans, but there is only limited evidence of human-to-human transmission such that these viruses are not adapted to spread within the human population (4). In contrast, Ebola virus (EBOV), which likely originated in fruit bats, and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), which jumped from camels to humans, have been able to establish transmission networks within human populations (5,6). Such different outcomes of cross-species transmission highlight the importance of revealing the biological factors that determine why only a subset of viruses are able to establish productive infections in humans (7,8).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Virological factors that increase the transmissibility of emerging human viruses

Geoghegan

Senior

Giallonardo

et al. 2016

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

125

123

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The early detection of pathogens with epidemic potential is of major importance to public health. Most emerging infections result in dead-end "spillover" events in which a pathogen is transmitted from an animal reservoir to a human but is unable to achieve the sustained human-to-human transmission necessary for a full-blown epidemic. It is therefore critical to determine why only some virus infections are efficiently transmitted among humans whereas others are not. We sought to determine which biological features best characterized those viruses that have achieved sustained human transmission. Accordingly, we compiled a database of 203 RNA and DNA human viruses and used an information theoretic approach to assess which of a set of key biological variables were the best predictors of human-to-human transmission. The variables analyzed were as follows: taxonomic classification; genome length, type, and segmentation; the presence or absence of an outer envelope; recombination frequency; duration of infection; host mortality; and whether or not a virus exhibits vector-borne transmission. This comparative analysis revealed multiple strong associations. In particular, we determined that viruses with low host mortality, that establish long-term chronic infections, and that are nonsegmented, nonenveloped, and, most importantly, not transmitted by vectors were more likely to be transmissible among humans. In contrast, variables including genome length, genome type, and recombination frequency had little predictive power. In sum, we have identified multiple biological features that seemingly determine the likelihood of interhuman viral transmissibility, in turn enabling general predictions of whether viruses of a particular type will successfully emerge in human populations.virus | evolution | transmission | comparative analysis | spill-over

show abstract

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Virological factors that increase the transmissibility of emerging human viruses

Geoghegan

Senior

Giallonardo

et al. 2016

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

125

123

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…8,9 Furthermore, epidemiological studies have revealed multiple possible routes of transmission, as camel-to-human and human-to-human propagation especially in the healthcare setting, either through droplet or contact transmission. [10][11][12][13] Furthermore, genomic studies have clarified that viral genomes originating from humans as well as camels have fused; strengthening the possibility of camel-to-human transmission.…”

Section: The Agentmentioning

confidence: 99%

MERS: an emerging disease of the 21st century

Bala

Chehab

Selim

2017

Int J Community Med Public Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Between September 2012 and March 2017, the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), caused by an infection with the MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV), has been responsible for 1,931 laboratory-confirmed cases and at least 741 related-deaths. Despite the paucity of knowledge on the source and route of transmission, the evidence currently points to dromedary camels. Moreover, the incubation period for this disease ranges from two to sixteen days. The symptomatology of MERS-CoV is non-specific and cases are easily misdiagnosed. As most respiratory illnesses, no specific anti-viral therapies have been effective to date for the treatment of MERS. Currently, the WHO does not advise any travel or trade restrictions regarding MERS-CoV. However, the poor practice of infection control has reflected the association between the healthcare setting and the spike of disease occurrence, especially among patients. Interestingly, the adoption of the “one health” approach is critical to establish a more holistic understanding of this epidemic. Additionally, implementing strategies aimed at risk reduction of animal-to-human transmission, rapid case finding, adequate infection control, and contact tracing are key in the control and prevention of MERS-CoV.

show abstract

Section: Sources Of Infection and Transmission Routesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Based on the current reports, the virus has limited ability for transmition from person to person and has no potential for causing a pandemic (15). There is growing evidences that the dromedary camel is host species for MERS-CoV and plays an important role in the transmission of the viruses to human (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20). In August 2013, for the first time, dromedary camels were implicated as a possible source of virus causing human infection because of the presences of MERS-CoV specific neutralizing antibodies in dromedary camels from Oman and other countries in the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa (15)(16)(17)(18)(19).…”

Section: Sources Of Infection and Transmission Routesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Countries in the Middle East are also strongly encouraged to consider adding testing for MERS-CoV to current testing algorithms as part of routine sentinel respiratory disease surveillance and diagnostic panels for pneumonia if local capacity can support it and also some testing of patients with milder unexplained community acquired pneumonia requiring admission to hospital. WHO does not advise special screening at point of entry (13)(14)(15).…”

Section: Clinical Cases That Should Be Evaluated For Merscov Infectiomentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus: A Review

Sarparast¹,

Saffar²

2015

J Pediatr Rev

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Context: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection is an emerging human disease that has been reported from the Arabian Peninsula and Middle East countries since 2012. Although zoonotic transmission was postulated, virological and serological finding suggest that the dromedary camels act as the potential reservoirs of MERS-CoV infection to humans. As October 2014, a totally 855 confirmed cases with 333 related deaths were reported to WHO. All cases occurred in or epidemiologically linked to affected countries. The virus ability to induce a pandemic attack is limited. The clinical presentations vary and range from asymptomatic infection to severe respiratory disease and death. However, most severe disease occurs in elderly and in those with underlying conditions. Infection prevention and control measures are critical to prevent the possible spread of MERS-CoV infection is health care facilities and in the community. The WHO encourages all member states to perform surveillance of patients with acute severe respiratory infection and to carefully monitor any unusual patterns. This paper aims to review the current key characteristics of MERS-CoV infection in human and update the WHO recommendations about this illness.

show abstract

Evidence for Camel-to-Human Transmission of MERS Coronavirus

Cited by 793 publications

References 14 publications

Virological factors that increase the transmissibility of emerging human viruses

Virological factors that increase the transmissibility of emerging human viruses

MERS: an emerging disease of the 21st century

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus: A Review

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About