Serologic Evidence for MERS-CoV Infection in Dromedary Camels, Punjab, Pakistan, 2012-2015

Muhammad Saqib; Andrea Sieberg; Muhammad Hammad Hussain; Muhammad Khalid Mansoor; Ali Zohaib; Erik Lattwein; Marcel Alexander Müller; Christian Drosten; Victor Max Corman

doi:10.3201/eid2303.161285

Serologic Evidence for MERS-CoV Infection in Dromedary Camels, Punjab, Pakistan, 2012-2015

Emerg Infect Dis. 2017 Mar;23(3):550-551. doi: 10.3201/eid2303.161285.

Authors

Muhammad Saqib, Andrea Sieberg, Muhammad Hammad Hussain, Muhammad Khalid Mansoor, Ali Zohaib, Erik Lattwein, Marcel Alexander Müller, Christian Drosten, Victor Max Corman

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.

Keywords: Africa; Asia; Bactrian; MERS-CoV; Middle East respiratory syndrome; One Health; Pakistan; RNA viruses; animal reservoir; antimicrobial resistance; camels; coronavirus; dromedary; livestock; neutralizing antibodies; serology; viruses; zoonoses.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Camelus / blood*
Coronavirus Infections / blood
Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology
Coronavirus Infections / veterinary*
Coronavirus Infections / virology
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus / isolation & purification*
Pakistan / epidemiology
Serologic Tests / veterinary*