Livestock Susceptibility to Infection with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus

Overview

Journal Emerg Infect Dis

Specialty Infectious Diseases

Date 2016 Dec 1

PMID 27901465

Citations 66

Authors

Julia Vergara-Alert

Judith M A van den Brand

W Widagdo

Marta Munoz 5th

Stalin Raj

Debby Schipper

David Solanes

Ivan Cordon

Albert Bensaid

Bart L Haagmans

Joaquim Segales

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) cases continue to be reported, predominantly in Saudi Arabia and occasionally other countries. Although dromedaries are the main reservoir, other animal species might be susceptible to MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection and potentially serve as reservoirs. To determine whether other animals are potential reservoirs, we inoculated MERS-CoV into llamas, pigs, sheep, and horses and collected nasal and rectal swab samples at various times. The presence of MERS-CoV in the nose of pigs and llamas was confirmed by PCR, titration of infectious virus, immunohistochemistry, and in situ hybridization; seroconversion was detected in animals of both species. Conversely, in sheep and horses, virus-specific antibodies did not develop and no evidence of viral replication in the upper respiratory tract was found. These results prove the susceptibility of llamas and pigs to MERS-CoV infection. Thus, the possibility of MERS-CoV circulation in animals other than dromedaries, such as llamas and pigs, is not negligible.

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