Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus neutralising serum antibodies in dromedary camels: a comparative serological study - 24/09/13
, Bart L Haagmans, PhD b, †, Marcel A Müller, PhD c, †, Carlos Gutierrez, ProfPhD d, Gert-Jan Godeke, BSc a, Benjamin Meyer, MSc c, Doreen Muth, PhD c, V Stalin Raj, PhD b, Laura Smits-De Vries, MSc e, Victor M Corman, MD c, Jan-Felix Drexler, MD c, Saskia L Smits, PhD b, m, Yasmin E El Tahir, PhD f, Rita De Sousa, PhD a, h, Janko van Beek, MSc a, Norbert Nowotny, ProfPhD g, i, Kees van Maanen, PhD j, Ezequiel Hidalgo-Hermoso, DVM k, Berend-Jan Bosch, PhD e, Peter Rottier, ProfPhD e, Albert Osterhaus, ProfPhD b, m, Christian Gortázar-Schmidt, PhD l, Christian Drosten, ProfMD c, Marion PG Koopmans, ProfPhD a, b
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Summary |
Background |
A new betacoronavirus—Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV)—has been identified in patients with severe acute respiratory infection. Although related viruses infect bats, molecular clock analyses have been unable to identify direct ancestors of MERS-CoV. Anecdotal exposure histories suggest that patients had been in contact with dromedary camels or goats. We investigated possible animal reservoirs of MERS-CoV by assessing specific serum antibodies in livestock.
Methods |
We took sera from animals in the Middle East (Oman) and from elsewhere (Spain, Netherlands, Chile). Cattle (n=80), sheep (n=40), goats (n=40), dromedary camels (n=155), and various other camelid species (n=34) were tested for specific serum IgG by protein microarray using the receptor-binding S1 subunits of spike proteins of MERS-CoV, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, and human coronavirus OC43. Results were confirmed by virus neutralisation tests for MERS-CoV and bovine coronavirus.
Findings |
50 of 50 (100%) sera from Omani camels and 15 of 105 (14%) from Spanish camels had protein-specific antibodies against MERS-CoV spike. Sera from European sheep, goats, cattle, and other camelids had no such antibodies. MERS-CoV neutralising antibody titres varied between 1/320 and 1/2560 for the Omani camel sera and between 1/20 and 1/320 for the Spanish camel sera. There was no evidence for cross-neutralisation by bovine coronavirus antibodies.
Interpretation |
MERS-CoV or a related virus has infected camel populations. Both titres and seroprevalences in sera from different locations in Oman suggest widespread infection.
Funding |
European Union, European Centre For Disease Prevention and Control, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.
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Vol 13 - N° 10
P. 859-866 - octobre 2013 Retour au numéro
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