Journal of Antivirals & Antiretrovirals
Open Access
ISSN: 1948-5964
+44 1300 500008
ISSN: 1948-5964
+44 1300 500008
Maged Gomaa Hemida
King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia
Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Antivir Antiretrovir
Middle East Respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS) is one of the major health concerns worldwide. Dromedary camels are likely to be a natural host of MERS. Transmission between camels is clearly documented. However, it is still unclear whether this is the only natural host for this virus. Clearly, transmission from camels to humans is not efficient and infection is not directly proportional to exposure. Heterogeneity of human susceptibility to MERS infection may be one possible explanation. On the other hand, many human cases of MERS do not have an obvious history of direct exposure to camels or their products. Thus, the possibility of another intermediate host in MERS transmission to humans remains possible. To test this hypothesis, different samples were collected from positive MERS camel populations. Serum samples were also collected from people in close contact with these animals. Samples from birds shared the habitat with these animals such as doves, sparrow as well as from sheep and goat flocks in close proximity of these animals were collected. Samples from mites, ticks, mosquitoes and flies were also collected from these flocks. Detection of the virus was done by Real time PCR while detection of the viral antibodies was done by the Pseudovirus particle neutralization assay. Absence of antibodies in sera of close contact people, sheep, goat, and birds was reported. Only camels showed neutralizing antibodies. Meanwhile, swabs from tested birds, flies and mosquitoes were negative. Thus, transmission of MERS is too complicated. Further studies are needed to study the human/MERS/camels interactions.
Email: gomaa55@gmail.com