MERS-CoV Found in <i>Hyalomma dromedarii</i> Ticks Attached to Dromedary Camels at a Livestock Market, United Arab Emirates, 2019
The main mode of transmission of Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (MERS-CoV) between dromedaries is likely via the respiratory route. However, there must be other modes to explain how the infection is brought to MERS-CoV-negative closed herds, such as transmission by ticks. Here,...
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MDPI AG
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Viruses |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/15/6/1288 |
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| author | Pia Weidinger Jolanta Kolodziejek Tom Loney Dafalla O. Kannan Babiker Mohammed Osman Tamer Khafaga Brigitte Howarth Moayyed Sher Shah Hessa Mazrooei Nadine Wolf Noushad Karuvantevida Ahmad Abou Tayoun Alawi Alsheikh-Ali Jeremy V. Camp Norbert Nowotny |
| author_facet | Pia Weidinger Jolanta Kolodziejek Tom Loney Dafalla O. Kannan Babiker Mohammed Osman Tamer Khafaga Brigitte Howarth Moayyed Sher Shah Hessa Mazrooei Nadine Wolf Noushad Karuvantevida Ahmad Abou Tayoun Alawi Alsheikh-Ali Jeremy V. Camp Norbert Nowotny |
| author_sort | Pia Weidinger |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The main mode of transmission of Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (MERS-CoV) between dromedaries is likely via the respiratory route. However, there must be other modes to explain how the infection is brought to MERS-CoV-negative closed herds, such as transmission by ticks. Here, we present a study performed at three different locations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) involving 215 dromedary camels (<i>Camelus dromedarius</i>) and the ticks attached to them. We tested the camels and ticks via RT-(q)PCR for the presence of MERS-CoV nucleic acids, as well as flaviviruses that may be present in the region (e.g., Alkhumra hemorrhagic fever virus). Camel sera were additionally analyzed for evidence of previous exposure to MERS-CoV. In total, 8 out of 242 tick pools were positive for MERS-CoV RNA (3.3%; C<sub>t</sub> 34.6–38.3), 7 of which contained <i>Hyalomma dromedarii</i> ticks, and one contained a <i>Hyalomma</i> sp. tick (species not identified). All of the virus-positive ticks’ host camels were also positive for MERS-CoV RNA in their nasal swab samples. Short sequences established in the <i>N</i> gene region from two positive tick pools were identical to viral sequences from their hosts’ nasal swabs. In total, 59.3% of dromedaries at the livestock market had MERS-CoV RNA in their nasal swabs (C<sub>t</sub> 17.7–39.5). While dromedaries at all locations were negative for MERS-CoV RNA in their serum samples, antibodies were detected in 95.2% and 98.7% of them (tested by ELISA and indirect immunofluorescence test, respectively). Given the probably transient and/or low level of MERS-CoV viremia in dromedaries and the rather high C<sub>t</sub> values observed in the ticks, it seems unlikely that <i>Hyalomma dromedarii</i> is a competent vector for MERS-CoV; however, its role in mechanical or fomite transmission between camels should be investigated. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:50:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ef1e7ee32dfc4fb7844a4d265a92c572 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4915 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:50:34Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
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| series | Viruses |
| spelling | doaj.art-ef1e7ee32dfc4fb7844a4d265a92c5722023-11-18T13:01:40ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152023-05-01156128810.3390/v15061288MERS-CoV Found in <i>Hyalomma dromedarii</i> Ticks Attached to Dromedary Camels at a Livestock Market, United Arab Emirates, 2019Pia Weidinger0Jolanta Kolodziejek1Tom Loney2Dafalla O. Kannan3Babiker Mohammed Osman4Tamer Khafaga5Brigitte Howarth6Moayyed Sher Shah7Hessa Mazrooei8Nadine Wolf9Noushad Karuvantevida10Ahmad Abou Tayoun11Alawi Alsheikh-Ali12Jeremy V. Camp13Norbert Nowotny14Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, AustriaViral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, AustriaCollege of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai P.O. Box 505055, United Arab EmiratesAl Ain City Municipality, Al Ain P.O. Box 1003, United Arab EmiratesAl Ain City Municipality, Al Ain P.O. Box 1003, United Arab EmiratesDubai Desert Conservation Reserve, Emirates Group, Dubai P.O. Box 686, United Arab EmiratesNatural History Museum Abu Dhabi (NHMAD), Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 94000, United Arab EmiratesDubai Desert Conservation Reserve, Emirates Group, Dubai P.O. Box 686, United Arab EmiratesCollege of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai P.O. Box 505055, United Arab EmiratesViral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, AustriaCollege of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai P.O. Box 505055, United Arab EmiratesAl Jalila Genomics Center of Excellence, Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital, Dubai P.O. Box 7662, United Arab EmiratesCollege of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai P.O. Box 505055, United Arab EmiratesCenter for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, AustriaViral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, AustriaThe main mode of transmission of Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (MERS-CoV) between dromedaries is likely via the respiratory route. However, there must be other modes to explain how the infection is brought to MERS-CoV-negative closed herds, such as transmission by ticks. Here, we present a study performed at three different locations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) involving 215 dromedary camels (<i>Camelus dromedarius</i>) and the ticks attached to them. We tested the camels and ticks via RT-(q)PCR for the presence of MERS-CoV nucleic acids, as well as flaviviruses that may be present in the region (e.g., Alkhumra hemorrhagic fever virus). Camel sera were additionally analyzed for evidence of previous exposure to MERS-CoV. In total, 8 out of 242 tick pools were positive for MERS-CoV RNA (3.3%; C<sub>t</sub> 34.6–38.3), 7 of which contained <i>Hyalomma dromedarii</i> ticks, and one contained a <i>Hyalomma</i> sp. tick (species not identified). All of the virus-positive ticks’ host camels were also positive for MERS-CoV RNA in their nasal swab samples. Short sequences established in the <i>N</i> gene region from two positive tick pools were identical to viral sequences from their hosts’ nasal swabs. In total, 59.3% of dromedaries at the livestock market had MERS-CoV RNA in their nasal swabs (C<sub>t</sub> 17.7–39.5). While dromedaries at all locations were negative for MERS-CoV RNA in their serum samples, antibodies were detected in 95.2% and 98.7% of them (tested by ELISA and indirect immunofluorescence test, respectively). Given the probably transient and/or low level of MERS-CoV viremia in dromedaries and the rather high C<sub>t</sub> values observed in the ticks, it seems unlikely that <i>Hyalomma dromedarii</i> is a competent vector for MERS-CoV; however, its role in mechanical or fomite transmission between camels should be investigated.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/15/6/1288MERS-CoVcoronavirusUAEdromedarycameltick |
| spellingShingle | Pia Weidinger Jolanta Kolodziejek Tom Loney Dafalla O. Kannan Babiker Mohammed Osman Tamer Khafaga Brigitte Howarth Moayyed Sher Shah Hessa Mazrooei Nadine Wolf Noushad Karuvantevida Ahmad Abou Tayoun Alawi Alsheikh-Ali Jeremy V. Camp Norbert Nowotny MERS-CoV Found in <i>Hyalomma dromedarii</i> Ticks Attached to Dromedary Camels at a Livestock Market, United Arab Emirates, 2019 Viruses MERS-CoV coronavirus UAE dromedary camel tick |
| title | MERS-CoV Found in <i>Hyalomma dromedarii</i> Ticks Attached to Dromedary Camels at a Livestock Market, United Arab Emirates, 2019 |
| title_full | MERS-CoV Found in <i>Hyalomma dromedarii</i> Ticks Attached to Dromedary Camels at a Livestock Market, United Arab Emirates, 2019 |
| title_fullStr | MERS-CoV Found in <i>Hyalomma dromedarii</i> Ticks Attached to Dromedary Camels at a Livestock Market, United Arab Emirates, 2019 |
| title_full_unstemmed | MERS-CoV Found in <i>Hyalomma dromedarii</i> Ticks Attached to Dromedary Camels at a Livestock Market, United Arab Emirates, 2019 |
| title_short | MERS-CoV Found in <i>Hyalomma dromedarii</i> Ticks Attached to Dromedary Camels at a Livestock Market, United Arab Emirates, 2019 |
| title_sort | mers cov found in i hyalomma dromedarii i ticks attached to dromedary camels at a livestock market united arab emirates 2019 |
| topic | MERS-CoV coronavirus UAE dromedary camel tick |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/15/6/1288 |
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