Emerging Infectious Diseases (Jul 2015)

MERS-CoV in Upper Respiratory Tract and Lungs of Dromedary Camels, Saudi Arabia, 2013–2014

  • Abdelmalik I. Khalafalla,
  • Xiaoyan Lu,
  • Abdullah I.A. Al-Mubarak,
  • Abdul Hafeed S. Dalab,
  • Khalid A.S. Al-Busadah,
  • Dean D. Erdman

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2107.150070
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 21, no. 7
pp. 1153 – 1158

Abstract

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To assess the temporal dynamics of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection in dromedary camels, specimens were collected at 1–2 month intervals from 2 independent groups of animals during April 2013–May 2014 in Al-Ahsa Province, Saudi Arabia, and tested for MERS-CoV RNA by reverse transcription PCR. Of 96 live camels, 28 (29.2%) nasal swab samples were positive; of 91 camel carcasses, 56 (61.5%) lung tissue samples were positive. Positive samples were more commonly found among young animals (4 years of age). The proportions of positive samples varied by month for both groups; detection peaked during November 2013 and January 2014 and declined in March and May 2014. These findings further our understanding of MERS-CoV infection in dromedary camels and may help inform intervention strategies to reduce zoonotic infections.

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