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Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Antibody Reactors Among Camels in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in 2005
Author(s) -
Alexandersen S.,
Kobinger G. P.,
Soule G.,
Wernery U.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
transboundary and emerging diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.392
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1865-1682
pISSN - 1865-1674
DOI - 10.1111/tbed.12212
Subject(s) - middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus , veterinary medicine , middle east respiratory syndrome , antibody , population , virus , biology , pandemic , middle east , virology , covid-19 , medicine , immunology , geography , environmental health , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty) , archaeology
Summary We tested, using a low starting dilution, sequential serum samples from dromedary camels, sheep and horses collected in Dubai from February/April to October of 2005 and from dromedary camels for export/import testing between Canada and USA in 2000–2001. Using a standard Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus ( MERS ‐CoV) neutralization test, serial sera from three sheep and three horses were all negative while sera from 9 of 11 dromedary camels from Dubai were positive for antibodies supported by similar results in a MERS ‐CoV recombinant partial spike protein antibody ELISA . The two negative Dubai camels were both dromedary calves and remained negative over the 5 months studied. The six dromedary samples from USA and Canada were negative in both tests. These results support the recent findings that infection with MERS ‐CoV or a closely related virus is not a new occurrence in camels in the Middle East. Therefore, interactions of MERS ‐CoV at the human–animal interface may have been ongoing for several, perhaps many, years and by inference, a widespread pandemic may be less likely unless significant evolution of the virus allow accelerated infection and spread potential in the human population.