MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV Infections in Animals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prevalence Studies

Abstract

Introduction: Coronaviruses are zoonotic viruses that include human epidemic pathogens such as the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome virus (MERS-CoV), and the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome virus (SARS-CoV), among others (e.g., COVID-19, the recently emerging coronavirus disease). The role of animals as potential reservoirs for such pathogens remains an unanswered question. No systematic reviews have been published on this topic to date. Methods: We performed a systematic literature review with meta-analysis, using three databases to assess MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV infection in animals and its diagnosis by serological and molecular tests. We performed a random-effects model meta-analysis to calculate the pooled prevalence and 95% confidence interval (95%CI). Results: 6,493articles were retrieved (1960-2019). After screening by abstract/title, 50 articles were selected for full-text assessment. Of them, 42 were finally included for qualitative and quantitative analyses. From a total of 34 studies (n=20,896 animals), the pool prevalence by RT-PCR for MERS-CoV was 7.2% (95%CI 5.6-8.7%), with 97.3% occurring in camels, in which pool prevalence was 10.3% (95%CI 8.3-12.3). Qatar was the country with the highest MERS-CoV RT-PCR pool prevalence, 32.6% (95%CI 4.8-60.4%). From 5 studies and 2,618 animals, for SARS-CoV, the RT-PCR pool prevalence was 2.3% (95%CI 1.3-3.3). Of those, 38.35% were reported on bats, in which the pool prevalence was 14.1% (95%CI0.0-44.6%). Discussion: A considerable proportion of infected animals tested positive, particularly by nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT). This essential condition highlights the relevance of individual animals as reservoirs of MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV. In this meta-analysis, camels and bats were found to be positive by RT-PCR in over 10% of the cases for both; thus, suggesting their relevance in the maintenance of wild zoonotic transmission.

Modes of Transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Factors Influencing on the Airborne Transmission: A Review

“…Usual human coronaviruses, containing alpha and beta coronaviruses, commonly create mild to moderate upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) similar to the common cold [ 47 , 52 , 53 ]. Meanwhile, the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) causes severe respiratory illness (lungs and upper respiratory tract) and even death in some patients ( Figure 2 ) [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 20 , 27 , 47 , 54 ]. It should be noted that SARS-CoV-2 belongs to beta-CoVs, and its size is between 60 and 140 nm [ 55 ] and approximately 120 nm in diameter [ 56 ].…”

“…It should be noted that SARS-CoV-2 belongs to beta-CoVs, and its size is between 60 and 140 nm [ 55 ] and approximately 120 nm in diameter [ 56 ]. Moreover, some studies reported that SARS-CoV-2 has a zoonotic origin [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 20 , 27 , 47 , 54 ].…”

“…Hence, the COVID-19 outbreak has been declared a global public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization (WHO) [ 12 , 13 , 14 ]. The original source and the way of transmission to humans are the subject of current studies [ 13 , 15 , 16 , 17 ]. It was stated in January 2020 that the virus of SARS-CoV-2 causes COVID-19, creating infections typical for a second-class infectious disease, but that management measures for a first-class infectious (dangerous) disease are required [ 12 ].…”

The presence of SARS-CoV-2 in raw and treated wastewater in 3 cities of Iran: Tehran, Qom and Anzali during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak

“…Hence, the COVID-19 outbreak has been declared a global public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization (WHO) [13][14][15]. The original source and the way of transmission to humans is the subject of current studies [6,14,[16][17][18].…”

The Constant Threat of Zoonotic and Vector-Borne Emerging Tropical Diseases: Living on the Edge

“…Diseases such as Chikungunya ( 11 – 16 ), Zika ( 17 – 24 ), Yellow Fever ( 25 – 28 ), Dengue ( 29 – 33 ), Oropouche, Madre de Dios virus, Iquitos virus ( 34 , 35 ), Mayaro Fever ( 36 , 37 ), Ebola ( 38 – 42 ), Nipah virus, arenaviruses such as Lassa ( 43 ), Machupo ( 44 , 45 ), Chapare ( 45 , 46 ), Junin ( 47 ), zoonotic Malaria ( 48 ), Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome ( 49 ), Plague ( 50 ), Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, Acute Orally Transmitted Chagas Disease ( 51 – 54 ), Visceral and Diffuse Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ( 55 , 56 ), Toxoplasmosis ( 57 – 59 ), Tick-Borne Diseases ( 60 , 61 ), Rift Valley Fever, Tuberculosis ( 62 ), Leprosy ( 63 – 67 ), Avian Influenza ( 68 – 70 ), Orthohantavirus ( 71 – 75 ), and Toxocariasis ( 76 , 77 ) have posed a significant impact to human health. Furthermore, zoonotic epidemics and pandemic coronaviruses, such as the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) ( 78 – 82 ), and the ongoing SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 ( 83 , 84 ) pandemic, have caused a profound economical and social disruption threatening to overwhelm public health systems globally ( 85 ) ( Table 1 ). Most of these pathogens can even cocirculate and coinfect a significant proportion of inhabitants within the same territories ( 11 , 87 – 94 ).…”