Dromedary camels are implicated as reservoirs of MERS-CoV （Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus）. High prevalence of MERS-CoV antibodies in dromedaries in Africa and Arabian Peninsula was demonstrated from...Dromedary camels are implicated as reservoirs of MERS-CoV （Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus）. High prevalence of MERS-CoV antibodies in dromedaries in Africa and Arabian Peninsula was demonstrated from sera archived between 1992 and 2012 with matching of camel-derived and human-derived sequences from various regions suggesting zoonotic transmission. We assessed sero-prevalence of anti-MERS-CoV antibodies among dromedaries at Athi-River slaughterhouse, Kenya. Proportions were calculated and associations between anti-MERS-CoV antibody sero-positivity and age group, sex, and origin of camels were assessed using Chi-square tests. Out of 373 specimens, 53% were females, antibody sero-prevalence was 82%. Sero-prevalence did not differ by age group, sex, or origin. This study reports high sero-prevalence of MERS-CoV antibodies demonstrated among camels brought for slaughter from different regions of Kenya. This was consistent with other studies in Africa among adult camels and further proves that the virus likely remains present in Kenya. Since only mature camels were assessed, more studies on younger populations of camels could help determine the dynamics of virus transmission. Though the risk from mature animals is not known, at some point these camels become re-infected and human populations exposed to camels may still face some risks.展开更多
文摘Dromedary camels are implicated as reservoirs of MERS-CoV （Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus）. High prevalence of MERS-CoV antibodies in dromedaries in Africa and Arabian Peninsula was demonstrated from sera archived between 1992 and 2012 with matching of camel-derived and human-derived sequences from various regions suggesting zoonotic transmission. We assessed sero-prevalence of anti-MERS-CoV antibodies among dromedaries at Athi-River slaughterhouse, Kenya. Proportions were calculated and associations between anti-MERS-CoV antibody sero-positivity and age group, sex, and origin of camels were assessed using Chi-square tests. Out of 373 specimens, 53% were females, antibody sero-prevalence was 82%. Sero-prevalence did not differ by age group, sex, or origin. This study reports high sero-prevalence of MERS-CoV antibodies demonstrated among camels brought for slaughter from different regions of Kenya. This was consistent with other studies in Africa among adult camels and further proves that the virus likely remains present in Kenya. Since only mature camels were assessed, more studies on younger populations of camels could help determine the dynamics of virus transmission. Though the risk from mature animals is not known, at some point these camels become re-infected and human populations exposed to camels may still face some risks.
