The Lancet Infectious Diseases, Early Online Publication, 9 August 2013
doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(13)70164-6
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Background
A
new betacoronavirus—Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus
(MERS-CoV)—has been identified in patients with severe acute respiratory
infection. Although related viruses infect bats, molecular clock
analyses have been unable to identify direct ancestors of MERS-CoV.
Anecdotal exposure histories suggest that patients had been in contact
with dromedary camels or goats. We investigated possible animal
reservoirs of MERS-CoV by assessing specific serum antibodies in
livestock.
Methods
We
took sera from animals in the Middle East (Oman) and from elsewhere
(Spain, Netherlands, Chile). Cattle (n=80), sheep (n=40), goats (n=40),
dromedary camels (n=155), and various other camelid species (n=34) were
tested for specific serum IgG by protein microarray using the
receptor-binding S1 subunits of spike proteins of MERS-CoV, severe acute
respiratory syndrome coronavirus, and human coronavirus OC43. Results
were confirmed by virus neutralisation tests for MERS-CoV and bovine
coronavirus.
Findings
50
of 50 (100%) sera from Omani camels and 15 of 105 (14%) from Spanish
camels had protein-specific antibodies against MERS-CoV spike. Sera from
European sheep, goats, cattle, and other camelids had no such
antibodies. MERS-CoV neutralising antibody titres varied between 1/320
and 1/2560 for the Omani camel sera and between 1/20 and 1/320 for the
Spanish camel sera. There was no evidence for cross-neutralisation by
bovine coronavirus antibodies.
Interpretation
MERS-CoV
or a related virus has infected camel populations. Both titres and
seroprevalences in sera from different locations in Oman suggest
widespread infection.
Funding
European Union, European Centre For Disease Prevention and Control, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.
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