[Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Camel virus and zoonotic pathogen]

Abstract

The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) has been firstly identified in September 2012 as causative agent of severe and lethal respiratory disease in humans (Table 1). According to its name, MERS-CoV infection mostly occur on the Arabian Peninsula. MERS-CoV together with the Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2) are zoonotic coronaviruses that are transmitted by different animals. Dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) are an important animal reservoir sheeding high amount of MERS-CoV in nasal discharge indicating a continuous zoonotic transmission in the human population. So far, the understanding of MERS-CoV pathogenesis in humans and camels is very limited. There are no vaccines and therapeutics licensed. However, the MERS-CoV epidemic on the Arabian Peninsula is still ongoing. Moreover, with the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, there is another health threat posed by a coronavirus. Thus, the development of efficient therapeutic and preventive strategies is an urgent need for the global health.

Keywords

• new emerging pathogens
• severe acute respiratory syndrome
• out-break scenarios
• preventive measures