The Experts below are selected from a list of 16521 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Ziad A Memish - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus mers cov origin and animal reservoir
2016Co-Authors: Hamzah A Mohd, Jaffar A Altawfiq, Ziad A MemishAbstract:Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a novel coronavirus discovered in 2012 and is responsible for acute respiratory syndrome in humans. Though not confirmed yet, multiple surveillance and phylogenetic studies suggest a bat origin. The disease is heavily endemic in dromedary camel populations of East Africa and the Middle East. It is unclear as to when the virus was introduced to dromedary Camels, but data from studies that investigated stored dromedary camel sera and geographical distribution of involved dromedary camel populations suggested that the virus was present in dromedary Camels several decades ago. Though bats and alpacas can serve as potential reservoirs for MERS-CoV, dromedary Camels seem to be the only animal host responsible for the spill over human infections.
Vincent Obanda - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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genetic evidence of middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus mers cov and widespread seroprevalence among Camels in kenya
2018Co-Authors: Sheila Ommeh, Ben Hu, Moses Masika, Xinglou Yang, Xingyi Ge, Ali Zohaib, H. M. Zhang, Jing Chen, Vincent ObandaAbstract:We describe the first genome isolation of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Kenya. This fatal zoonotic pathogen was first described in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2012. Epidemiological and molecular evidence revealed zoonotic transmission from Camels to humans and between humans. Currently, MERS-CoV is classified by the WHO as having high pandemic potential requiring greater surveillance. Previous studies of MERS-CoV in Kenya mainly focused on site-specific and archived camel and human serum samples for antibodies. We conducted active nationwide cross-sectional surveillance of Camels and humans in Kenya, targeting both nasal swabs and plasma samples from 1, 163 Camels and 486 humans collected from January 2016 to June 2018. A total of 792 camel plasma samples were positive by ELISA. Seroprevalence increased with age, and the highest prevalence was observed in adult Camels (82.37%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 79.50-84.91). More female Camels were significantly seropositive (74.28%, 95% CI 71.14-77.19) than male Camels (P < 0.001) (53.74%, 95% CI 48.48-58.90). Only 11 camel nasal swabs were positive for MERS-CoV by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. Phylogenetic analysis of whole genome sequences showed that Kenyan MERS-CoV clustered within sub-clade C2, which is associated with the African clade, but did not contain signature deletions of orf4b in African viruses. None of the human plasma screened contained neutralizing antibodies against MERS-CoV. This study confirms the geographically widespread occurrence of MERS-CoV in Kenyan Camels. Further one-health surveillance approaches in Camels, wildlife, and human populations are needed.
Jaffar A Altawfiq - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus mers cov origin and animal reservoir
2016Co-Authors: Hamzah A Mohd, Jaffar A Altawfiq, Ziad A MemishAbstract:Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a novel coronavirus discovered in 2012 and is responsible for acute respiratory syndrome in humans. Though not confirmed yet, multiple surveillance and phylogenetic studies suggest a bat origin. The disease is heavily endemic in dromedary camel populations of East Africa and the Middle East. It is unclear as to when the virus was introduced to dromedary Camels, but data from studies that investigated stored dromedary camel sera and geographical distribution of involved dromedary camel populations suggested that the virus was present in dromedary Camels several decades ago. Though bats and alpacas can serve as potential reservoirs for MERS-CoV, dromedary Camels seem to be the only animal host responsible for the spill over human infections.
Marc-alain Widdowson - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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no serologic evidence of middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection among camel farmers exposed to highly seropositive camel herds a household linked study kenya 2013
2017Co-Authors: Peninah Munyua, Austine Bitek, Eric Osoro, Rees Murithi, Benjamin Meyer, S M Thumbi, Marcel A Muller, Erik Lattwein, Victor Max Corman, Marc-alain WiddowsonAbstract:High seroprevalence of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) among Camels has been reported in Kenya and other countries in Africa. To date, the only report of MERS-CoV seropositivity among humans in Kenya is of two livestock keepers with no known contact with Camels. We assessed whether persons exposed to seropositive Camels at household level had serological evidence of infection. In 2013, 760 human and 879 camel sera were collected from 275 and 85 households respectively in Marsabit County. Data on human and animal demographics and type of contact with Camels were collected. Human and camel sera were tested for anti-MERS-CoV IgG using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. Human samples were confirmed by plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT). Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with seropositivity. The median age of persons sampled was 30 years (range: 5–90) and 50% were males. A quarter (197/760) of the participants reported having had contact with Camels defined as milking, feeding, watering, slaughtering, or herding. Of the human sera, 18 (2.4%) were positive on ELISA but negative by PRNT. Of the camel sera, 791 (90%) were positive on ELISA. On univariate analysis, higher prevalence was observed in female and older Camels over 4 years of age (P < 0.05). On multivariate analysis, only age remained significantly associated with increased odds of seropositivity. Despite high seroprevalence among Camels, there was no serological confirmation of MERS-CoV infection among camel pastoralists in Marsabit County. The high seropositivity suggests that MERS-CoV or other closely related virus continues to circulate in Camels and highlights ongoing potential for animal-to-human transmission.
Hamzah A Mohd - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus mers cov origin and animal reservoir
2016Co-Authors: Hamzah A Mohd, Jaffar A Altawfiq, Ziad A MemishAbstract:Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a novel coronavirus discovered in 2012 and is responsible for acute respiratory syndrome in humans. Though not confirmed yet, multiple surveillance and phylogenetic studies suggest a bat origin. The disease is heavily endemic in dromedary camel populations of East Africa and the Middle East. It is unclear as to when the virus was introduced to dromedary Camels, but data from studies that investigated stored dromedary camel sera and geographical distribution of involved dromedary camel populations suggested that the virus was present in dromedary Camels several decades ago. Though bats and alpacas can serve as potential reservoirs for MERS-CoV, dromedary Camels seem to be the only animal host responsible for the spill over human infections.
