Challenge infection model for MERS-CoV based on naturally infected camels
Abstract Background Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is an emerging virus that infects humans and camels with no approved antiviral therapy or vaccine. Some vaccines are in development for camels as a one-health intervention where vaccinating camels is proposed to reduce human...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-06-01
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| Series: | Virology Journal |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12985-020-01347-5 |
| _version_ | 1818417211594768384 |
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| author | Naif Khalaf Alharbi Osman H. Ibrahim Ali Alhafufi Samy Kasem Ali Aldowerij Raed Albrahim Ali Abu-obaidah Ali Alkarar Faisal Altaib Bayoumi Ali Mohammed Almansour Musaad Aldubaib Hail M. Al-Abdely Hanan H. Balkhy Ibrahim Qasim |
| author_facet | Naif Khalaf Alharbi Osman H. Ibrahim Ali Alhafufi Samy Kasem Ali Aldowerij Raed Albrahim Ali Abu-obaidah Ali Alkarar Faisal Altaib Bayoumi Ali Mohammed Almansour Musaad Aldubaib Hail M. Al-Abdely Hanan H. Balkhy Ibrahim Qasim |
| author_sort | Naif Khalaf Alharbi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is an emerging virus that infects humans and camels with no approved antiviral therapy or vaccine. Some vaccines are in development for camels as a one-health intervention where vaccinating camels is proposed to reduce human viral exposure. This intervention will require an understanding of the prior exposure of camels to the virus and appropriate vaccine efficacy studies in camels. Methods We conducted a cross sectional seroprevalence study in young dromedary camels to determine the rate of MERS-CoV seropositivity in young camels. Next, we utilised naturally infected camels as a natural challenge model that can be used by co-housing these camels with healthy naive camels in a ratio of 1 to 2. This model is aimed to support studies on natural virus transmission as well as evaluating drug and vaccine efficacy. Results We found that 90% of the screened camels have pre-existing antibodies for MERS-CoV. In addition, the challenge model resulted in MERS-CoV transmission within 48 h with infections that continued for 14 days post challenge. Conclusions Our finding suggests that the majority of young dromedary camels in Saudi Arabia are seropositive and that naturally infected camels can serve as a challenge model to assess transmission, therapeutics, and vaccine efficacy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T12:03:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7d42c3225e5e45f3a54ec954440aebd4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1743-422X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T12:03:11Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Virology Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-7d42c3225e5e45f3a54ec954440aebd42022-12-21T23:01:56ZengBMCVirology Journal1743-422X2020-06-011711710.1186/s12985-020-01347-5Challenge infection model for MERS-CoV based on naturally infected camelsNaif Khalaf Alharbi0Osman H. Ibrahim1Ali Alhafufi2Samy Kasem3Ali Aldowerij4Raed Albrahim5Ali Abu-obaidah6Ali Alkarar7Faisal Altaib Bayoumi8Ali Mohammed Almansour9Musaad Aldubaib10Hail M. Al-Abdely11Hanan H. Balkhy12Ibrahim Qasim13Department of Infectious Disease Research, King Abdullah International Medical Research CenterMinistry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA)Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA)Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA)Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA)Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA)Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA)Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA)Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA)Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA)College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Qassim UniversityMinistry of HealthDepartment of Infectious Disease Research, King Abdullah International Medical Research CenterMinistry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA)Abstract Background Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is an emerging virus that infects humans and camels with no approved antiviral therapy or vaccine. Some vaccines are in development for camels as a one-health intervention where vaccinating camels is proposed to reduce human viral exposure. This intervention will require an understanding of the prior exposure of camels to the virus and appropriate vaccine efficacy studies in camels. Methods We conducted a cross sectional seroprevalence study in young dromedary camels to determine the rate of MERS-CoV seropositivity in young camels. Next, we utilised naturally infected camels as a natural challenge model that can be used by co-housing these camels with healthy naive camels in a ratio of 1 to 2. This model is aimed to support studies on natural virus transmission as well as evaluating drug and vaccine efficacy. Results We found that 90% of the screened camels have pre-existing antibodies for MERS-CoV. In addition, the challenge model resulted in MERS-CoV transmission within 48 h with infections that continued for 14 days post challenge. Conclusions Our finding suggests that the majority of young dromedary camels in Saudi Arabia are seropositive and that naturally infected camels can serve as a challenge model to assess transmission, therapeutics, and vaccine efficacy.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12985-020-01347-5MERS-CoVDromedary camelsSeroprevalenceSaudi ArabiaVaccine efficacyChallenge model |
| spellingShingle | Naif Khalaf Alharbi Osman H. Ibrahim Ali Alhafufi Samy Kasem Ali Aldowerij Raed Albrahim Ali Abu-obaidah Ali Alkarar Faisal Altaib Bayoumi Ali Mohammed Almansour Musaad Aldubaib Hail M. Al-Abdely Hanan H. Balkhy Ibrahim Qasim Challenge infection model for MERS-CoV based on naturally infected camels Virology Journal MERS-CoV Dromedary camels Seroprevalence Saudi Arabia Vaccine efficacy Challenge model |
| title | Challenge infection model for MERS-CoV based on naturally infected camels |
| title_full | Challenge infection model for MERS-CoV based on naturally infected camels |
| title_fullStr | Challenge infection model for MERS-CoV based on naturally infected camels |
| title_full_unstemmed | Challenge infection model for MERS-CoV based on naturally infected camels |
| title_short | Challenge infection model for MERS-CoV based on naturally infected camels |
| title_sort | challenge infection model for mers cov based on naturally infected camels |
| topic | MERS-CoV Dromedary camels Seroprevalence Saudi Arabia Vaccine efficacy Challenge model |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12985-020-01347-5 |
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