Emerging Infectious Diseases (Dec 2016)

Time Course of MERS-CoV Infection and Immunity in Dromedary Camels

  • Benjamin Meyer,
  • Judit Juhasz,
  • Rajib Barua,
  • Aungshuman Das Gupta,
  • Fatima Hakimuddin,
  • Victor M. Corman,
  • Marcel A. Müller,
  • Ulrich Wernery,
  • Christian Drosten,
  • Peter Nagy

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2212.160382
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 22, no. 12
pp. 2171 – 2173

Abstract

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Knowledge about immunity to Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in dromedary camels is essential for infection control and vaccination. A longitudinal study of 11 dam–calf pairs showed that calves lose maternal MERS-CoV antibodies 5–6 months postparturition and are left susceptible to infection, indicating a short window of opportunity for vaccination.

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