Risk Factors for MERS-CoV Seropositivity Among Animal Market and Slaughterhouse Workers, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 2014-2017

Overview

Journal Emerg Infect Dis

Specialty Infectious Diseases

Date 2019 Apr 20

PMID 31002068

Citations 17

Authors

Ahmed Khudhair

Marie E Killerby

Mariam Al Mulla

Kheir Abou Elkheir

Wassim Ternanni

Zyad Bandar

Stefan Weber

Mary Khoury

George Donnelly

Salama Al Muhairi

Abdelmalik I Khalafalla

Suvang Trivedi

Azaibi Tamin

Natalie J Thornburg

John T Watson

Susan I Gerber

Farida Al Hosani

Aron J Hall

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Camel contact is a recognized risk factor for Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection. Because specific camel exposures associated with MERS-CoV seropositivity are not fully understood, we investigated worker-camel interactions and MERS-CoV seroprevalence. We assessed worker seroprevalence in 2 slaughterhouses and 1 live-animal market in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, during 2014-2017 and administered an epidemiologic survey in 2016 and 2017. Across 3 sampling rounds during 2014-2017, we sampled 100-235 workers, and 6%-19% were seropositive for MERS-CoV at each sampling round. One (1.4%) of 70 seronegative workers tested at multiple rounds seroconverted. On multivariable analyses, working as a camel salesman, handling live camels or their waste, and having diabetes were associated with seropositivity among all workers, whereas handling live camels and either administering medications or cleaning equipment was associated with seropositivity among market workers. Characterization of high-risk exposures is critical for implementation of preventive measures.

Citing Articles

Epidemiology and Scenario Simulations of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus (MERS-CoV) Disease Spread and Control for Dromedary Camels in United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Ali M, Fathelrahman E, El Awad A, Eltahir Y, Osman R, El-Khatib Y Animals (Basel). 2024; 14(3).

PMID: 38338005 PMC: 10854904. DOI: 10.3390/ani14030362.

Isolation and genetic characterization of MERS-CoV from dromedary camels in the United Arab Emirates.

Khalafalla A, Ishag H, Albalushi H, Al-Hammadi Z, Al Yammahi S, Shah A Front Vet Sci. 2023; 10:1182165.

PMID: 37720473 PMC: 10500840. DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1182165.

MERS-CoV Found in Ticks Attached to Dromedary Camels at a Livestock Market, United Arab Emirates, 2019.

Weidinger P, Kolodziejek J, Loney T, Kannan D, Osman B, Khafaga T Viruses. 2023; 15(6).

PMID: 37376588 PMC: 10303736. DOI: 10.3390/v15061288.

Bushmeat, wet markets, and the risks of pandemics: Exploring the nexus through systematic review of scientific disclosures.

Peros C, Dasgupta R, Kumar P, Johnson B Environ Sci Policy. 2022; 124:1-11.

PMID: 36536884 PMC: 9751798. DOI: 10.1016/j.envsci.2021.05.025.

Unresolved questions in the zoonotic transmission of MERS.

Peiris M, Perlman S Curr Opin Virol. 2022; 52:258-264.

PMID: 34999369 PMC: 8734234. DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2021.12.013.

References

Farag E, Reusken C, Haagmans B, Mohran K, Raj V, Pas S . High proportion of MERS-CoV shedding dromedaries at slaughterhouse with a potential epidemiological link to human cases, Qatar 2014. Infect Ecol Epidemiol. 2015; 5:28305. PMC: 4505336. DOI: 10.3402/iee.v5.28305. View

Haagmans B, Al Dhahiry S, Reusken C, Raj V, Galiano M, Myers R . Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus in dromedary camels: an outbreak investigation. Lancet Infect Dis. 2013; 14(2):140-5. PMC: 7106553. DOI: 10.1016/S1473-3099(13)70690-X. View

Meyer B, Muller M, Corman V, Reusken C, Ritz D, Godeke G . Antibodies against MERS coronavirus in dromedary camels, United Arab Emirates, 2003 and 2013. Emerg Infect Dis. 2014; 20(4):552-9. PMC: 3966379. DOI: 10.3201/eid2004.131746. View

Muller M, Meyer B, Corman V, Al-Masri M, Turkestani A, Ritz D . Presence of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus antibodies in Saudi Arabia: a nationwide, cross-sectional, serological study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2015; 15(5):559-64. PMC: 7185864. DOI: 10.1016/S1473-3099(15)70090-3. View

Wernery U, Corman V, Wong E, Tsang A, Muth D, Lau S . Acute middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection in livestock Dromedaries, Dubai, 2014. Emerg Infect Dis. 2015; 21(6):1019-22. PMC: 4451903. DOI: 10.3201/eid2106.150038. View

Assiri A, Al-Tawfiq J, Al-Rabeeah A, Al-Rabiah F, Al-Hajjar S, Al-Barrak A . Epidemiological, demographic, and clinical characteristics of 47 cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus disease from Saudi Arabia: a descriptive study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2013; 13(9):752-61. PMC: 7185445. DOI: 10.1016/S1473-3099(13)70204-4. View

Alraddadi B, Watson J, Almarashi A, Abedi G, Turkistani A, Sadran M . Risk Factors for Primary Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Illness in Humans, Saudi Arabia, 2014. Emerg Infect Dis. 2015; 22(1):49-55. PMC: 4696714. DOI: 10.3201/eid2201.151340. View

Alagaili A, Briese T, Mishra N, Kapoor V, Sameroff S, Burbelo P . Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection in dromedary camels in Saudi Arabia. mBio. 2014; 5(2):e00884-14. PMC: 3940034. DOI: 10.1128/mBio.00884-14. View

Omrani A, Al-Tawfiq J, Memish Z . Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV): animal to human interaction. Pathog Glob Health. 2016; 109(8):354-62. PMC: 4809235. DOI: 10.1080/20477724.2015.1122852. View

10.

Choe P, Perera R, Beom Park W, Song K, Bang J, Kim E . MERS-CoV Antibody Responses 1 Year after Symptom Onset, South Korea, 2015. Emerg Infect Dis. 2017; 23(7):1079-1084. PMC: 5512479. DOI: 10.3201/eid2307.170310. View

11.

Mohd H, Al-Tawfiq J, Memish Z . Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) origin and animal reservoir. Virol J. 2016; 13:87. PMC: 4891877. DOI: 10.1186/s12985-016-0544-0. View

12.

Trivedi S, Miao C, Al-Abdallat M, Haddadin A, Alqasrawi S, Iblan I . Inclusion of MERS-spike protein ELISA in algorithm to determine serologic evidence of MERS-CoV infection. J Med Virol. 2017; 90(2):367-371. PMC: 6158782. DOI: 10.1002/jmv.24948. View

13.

Memish Z, Cotten M, Meyer B, Watson S, J Alsahafi A, Al Rabeeah A . Human infection with MERS coronavirus after exposure to infected camels, Saudi Arabia, 2013. Emerg Infect Dis. 2014; 20(6):1012-5. PMC: 4036761. DOI: 10.3201/eid2006.140402. View

14.

Chu D, Hui K, Perera R, Miguel E, Niemeyer D, Zhao J . MERS coronaviruses from camels in Africa exhibit region-dependent genetic diversity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2018; 115(12):3144-3149. PMC: 5866576. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1718769115. View

15.

Hemida M, Chu D, Poon L, Perera R, Alhammadi M, Ng H . MERS coronavirus in dromedary camel herd, Saudi Arabia. Emerg Infect Dis. 2014; 20(7):1231-4. PMC: 4073860. DOI: 10.3201/eid2007.140571. View

16.

Reusken C, Farag E, Jonges M, Godeke G, El-Sayed A, Pas S . Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) RNA and neutralising antibodies in milk collected according to local customs from dromedary camels, Qatar, April 2014. Euro Surveill. 2014; 19(23). DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es2014.19.23.20829. View

17.

Zhao J, Alshukairi A, Baharoon S, Ahmed W, Bokhari A, Nehdi A . Recovery from the Middle East respiratory syndrome is associated with antibody and T-cell responses. Sci Immunol. 2017; 2(14). PMC: 5576145. DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.aan5393. View

18.

Zaki A, van Boheemen S, Bestebroer T, Osterhaus A, Fouchier R . Isolation of a novel coronavirus from a man with pneumonia in Saudi Arabia. N Engl J Med. 2012; 367(19):1814-20. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1211721. View

19.

Paden C, Yusof M, Al Hammadi Z, Queen K, Tao Y, Eltahir Y . Zoonotic origin and transmission of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus in the UAE. Zoonoses Public Health. 2017; 65(3):322-333. PMC: 5893383. DOI: 10.1111/zph.12435. View

20.

Choi W, Kang C, Kim Y, Choi J, Joh J, Shin H . Clinical Presentation and Outcomes of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in the Republic of Korea. Infect Chemother. 2016; 48(2):118-26. PMC: 4945721. DOI: 10.3947/ic.2016.48.2.118. View