Title |
Livestock Susceptibility to Infection with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus
|
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Published in |
Emerging Infectious Diseases, February 2017
|
DOI | 10.3201/eid2302.161239 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Júlia Vergara-Alert, Judith M.A. van den Brand, W. Widagdo, Marta Muñoz, Stalin Raj, Debby Schipper, David Solanes, Ivan Cordón, Albert Bensaid, Bart L. Haagmans, Joaquim Segalés |
Abstract |
Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) cases continue to be reported, predominantly in Saudi Arabia and occasionally other countries. Although dromedaries are the main reservoir, other animal species might be susceptible to MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection and potentially serve as reservoirs. To determine whether other animals are potential reservoirs, we inoculated MERS-CoV into llamas, pigs, sheep, and horses and collected nasal and rectal swab samples at various times. The presence of MERS-CoV in the nose of pigs and llamas was confirmed by PCR, titration of infectious virus, immunohistochemistry, and in situ hybridization; seroconversion was detected in animals of both species. Conversely, in sheep and horses, virus-specific antibodies did not develop and no evidence of viral replication in the upper respiratory tract was found. These results prove the susceptibility of llamas and pigs to MERS-CoV infection. Thus, the possibility of MERS-CoV circulation in animals other than dromedaries, such as llamas and pigs, is not negligible. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United States | 9 | 20% |
Spain | 6 | 13% |
Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of | 2 | 4% |
United Kingdom | 2 | 4% |
Saudi Arabia | 2 | 4% |
Germany | 2 | 4% |
Turkey | 1 | 2% |
France | 1 | 2% |
Netherlands | 1 | 2% |
Other | 1 | 2% |
Unknown | 19 | 41% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 34 | 74% |
Scientists | 7 | 15% |
Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 4 | 9% |
Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 1 | 2% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Unknown | 99 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Ph. D. Student | 19 | 19% |
Researcher | 17 | 17% |
Student > Master | 13 | 13% |
Student > Bachelor | 9 | 9% |
Professor > Associate Professor | 6 | 6% |
Other | 17 | 17% |
Unknown | 18 | 18% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 17 | 17% |
Veterinary Science and Veterinary Medicine | 16 | 16% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 15 | 15% |
Medicine and Dentistry | 10 | 10% |
Immunology and Microbiology | 10 | 10% |
Other | 10 | 10% |
Unknown | 21 | 21% |