Lack of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Transmission from Infected Camels

Hemida, Maged Gomaa; Alnaeem, Abdelmohsen; Perera, Ranawaka A.P.M.; Chin, Alex W. H.; Poon, Leo L. M.; Peiris, Malik

doi:10.3201/eid2104.141949

Cited by 77 publications

(71 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Since the 1960s, major changes in commercial camel practices have led to large numbers of camels living in close proximity to human populations (51). Camels have been targeted as the most probable intermediate host, though this possibility remains controversial (52). A significantly greater seroprevalence of MERS-CoV antibodies has been found in individuals exposed to camels than in the general population (53).…”

Section: Emergence Of Mers-covmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coronavirus Host Range Expansion and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Emergence: Biochemical Mechanisms and Evolutionary Perspectives

Peck¹,

Burch²,

Heise

et al. 2015

Annu. Rev. Virol.

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Coronaviruses have frequently expanded their host range in recent history, with two events resulting in severe disease outbreaks in human populations. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) emerged in 2003 in Southeast Asia and rapidly spread around the world before it was controlled by public health intervention strategies. The 2012 Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) outbreak represents another prime example of virus emergence from a zoonotic reservoir. Here, we review the current knowledge of coronavirus cross-species transmission, with particular focus on MERS-CoV. MERS-CoV is still circulating in the human population, and the mechanisms governing its cross-species transmission have been only partially elucidated, highlighting a need for further investigation. We discuss biochemical determinants mediating MERS-CoV host cell permissivity, including virus spike interactions with the MERS-CoV cell surface receptor dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4), and evolutionary mechanisms that may facilitate host range expansion, including recombination, mutator alleles, and mutational robustness. Understanding these mechanisms can help us better recognize the threat of emergence for currently circulating zoonotic strains.

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Section: Emergence Of Mers-covmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coronavirus Host Range Expansion and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Emergence: Biochemical Mechanisms and Evolutionary Perspectives

Peck¹,

Burch²,

Heise

et al. 2015

Annu. Rev. Virol.

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show abstract

“…86 On the other hand, MERS-CoV antibodies were not detected in sera obtained from individuals who had close contact with camels that had documented MERS-CoV infection two to three months earlier. 87 Likewise, screened slaughterhouse workers and other animal workers in Western and Southern Saudi Arabia were all seronegative for MERS-CoV antibodies. 88,89 Collectively, the available data strongly suggest that MERS-CoV is highly prevalent in dromedary camels in the Arabian Peninsula and that transmission of infection from camels to humans, although inefficient, does occur.…”

Section: Lesson Four: Mers-cov Is Another Zoonotic Infectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV): what lessons can we learn?

Omrani

Shalhoub

2015

Journal of Hospital Infection

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The Middle East Respiratory Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was first isolated from a patient who died with severe pneumonia in June 2012. As of 19 June 2015, a total of 1,338 MERS-CoV infections have been notified to the World Health Organization (WHO). Clinical illness associated with MERS-CoV ranges from mild upper respiratory symptoms to rapidly progressive pneumonia and multi-organ failure. A significant proportion of patients present with non-respiratory symptoms such as headache, myalgia, vomiting and diarrhoea. A few potential therapeutic agents have been identified but none have been conclusively shown to be clinically effective. Human to human transmission is well documented, but the epidemic potential of MERS-CoV remains limited at present. Healthcare-associated clusters of MERS-CoV have been responsible for the majority of reported cases. The largest outbreaks have been driven by delayed diagnosis, overcrowding and poor infection control practices. However, chains of MERS-CoV transmission can be readily interrupted with implementation of appropriate control measures. As with any emerging infectious disease, guidelines for MERS-CoV case identification and surveillance evolved as new data became available. Sound clinical judgment is required to identify unusual presentations and trigger appropriate control precautions. Evidence from multiple sources implicates dromedary camels as natural hosts of MERS-CoV. Camel to human transmission has been demonstrated, but the exact mechanism of infection remains uncertain. The ubiquitously available social media have facilitated communication and networking amongst healthcare professionals and eventually proved to be important channels for presenting the public with factual material, timely updates and relevant advice.

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“…1,9,27,44 Despite the high prevalence of MERS-CoV in camels, viral transmission from camels to humans appears to be limited, and multiple countries with seropositive camels have yet to detect MERSCoV infections in humans. 18,32,49 …”

Section: Human Mers-cov Infectionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Comparative Review of Animal Models of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infection

2016

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Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was initially isolated from a Saudi Arabian man with fatal pneumonia. Since the original case in 2012, MERS-CoV infections have been reported in >1500 humans, and the case fatality rate is currently 35%. This lineage C betacoronavirus has been reported to cause a wide range of disease severity in humans, ranging from asymptomatic to progressive fatal pneumonia that may be accompanied by renal or multiorgan failure. Although the clinical presentation of human MERS-CoV infection has been documented, many facets of this emerging disease are still unknown and could be studied with animal models. Several animal models of MERS-CoV have been developed, including New Zealand white rabbits, transduced or transgenic mice that express human dipeptidyl peptidase 4, rhesus macaques, and common marmosets. This review provides an overview of the current state of knowledge on human MERS-CoV infections, the probable origin of MERS-CoV, and the available animal models of MERS-CoV infection. Evaluation of the benefits and limitations of these models will aid in appropriate model selection for studying viral pathogenesis and transmission, as well as for testing vaccines and antivirals against MERS-CoV.Keywords animal models, common marmosets, dipeptidyl peptidase 4, mice, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, pathogenicity, rabbits, respiratory system, review, rhesus macaques, transgenic Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was first isolated from a man in Saudi Arabia in 2012, and MERS-CoV infections have now been reported in >20 countries. 76,79 Originally called human coronavirus-EMC/2012, the virus was renamed MERS-CoV by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. 20,67 In humans, MERS-CoV is 1 of 6 coronaviruses that cause respiratory disease; however, it is currently the only known pathogenic human lineage C betacoronavirus. 31,68 MERS-CoV infections in humans range from asymptomatic to progressive fatal pneumonia with occasional renal or multiorgan failure. 44,52 To date, published autopsy data from fatal human cases are not available, and the exact route of viral transmission to and among humans is unknown. Additionally, there are currently no approved MERS-CoV-specific countermeasures. Thus, development of animal models to study the pathology and pathogenesis of MERS-CoV, the routes of viral transmission, and the efficacy of treatments and vaccines is critical. Here, we review the current state of knowledge on MERS-CoV infections in humans and potential animal reservoirs for the virus and provide an overview and analysis of animal models of MERS-CoV infection.

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Lack of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Transmission from Infected Camels

Cited by 77 publications

References 16 publications

Coronavirus Host Range Expansion and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Emergence: Biochemical Mechanisms and Evolutionary Perspectives

Coronavirus Host Range Expansion and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Emergence: Biochemical Mechanisms and Evolutionary Perspectives

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV): what lessons can we learn?

A Comparative Review of Animal Models of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infection

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