MERS-CoV Replicates in the Upper Respiratory Tracts of Camels

Large amounts of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus were shed by camels inoculated with a human viral isolate.

Camels have been implicated as one source of human infection with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV; NEJM JW Infect Dis Apr 25 2014). To assess whether camels are reservoirs for MERS-CoV, investigators inoculated three adult male camels (age 2, 3, and 5 years) with MERS-CoV at three sites: intratracheal, intranasal in each nostril, and conjunctival. Before inoculation, all three camels had tested negative for MERS-CoV and bovine coronavirus neutralizing antibodies.

All three camels developed rhinorrhea (lasting up to 2 weeks) and mildly elevated temperature. In nasal discharge, infectious virus was documented through day 7 postinoculation, and viral RNA was detected through day 35. Viral RNA was not detected in fecal or …

Reviewing Author

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

MERS-CoV Replicates in the Upper Respiratory Tracts of Camels

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Reviewing Author