Published: 31 Aug 2021 | Last Updated: 31 Aug 2021 15:19:12

Potential strategies for the control of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) have been identified among the virus’ natural host reservoir, dromedary camels.

Researchers from the Royal Veterinary College in London (RVC) working with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Rocky Mountain Laboratories (NIH, NIAID, US), Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST), Yarmouk University and the Jordanian government, have recently published their findings in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases (https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/27/9/20-3508_article). These findings identify key management practices that can help in creating disease-free herds and identify camel groups to prioritize for vaccination.

MERS-CoV in humans is one of three deadly zoonotic betacoronaviruses to have arisen over the past two decades, along with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 1 (SARS-CoV-1), the cause of the original SARS outbreak in 2002-2003, and SARS-CoV-2, causing the current Covid-19 pandemic. The first known outbreaks of MERS occurred in hospitals in Jordan and Saudi Arabia in 2012, though over 2500 cases have been identified across almost 30 countries since that time – with more than a third of these individuals subsequently dying from the disease.

Like other zoonotic betacoronaviruses, MERS-CoV, is thought to have originated among bat populations before subsequently jumping species to infect camels. However, while infection in humans can be fatal, symptoms in camels are typically mild (if any), similar to the common cold. The virus is widespread among camel populations in Africa, the Middle East and South Asia, however clinical infection in humans due to camel exposure has only been observed within the Arabian Peninsula – likely due to viral strains circulating in the region.

Study findings pave the way for the development and testing of interventions aimed at reducing the risk of MERS-CoV infection among high-risk communities in the region, an objective that the team is currently pursuing as part of a new project funded by the UK Medical Research Council (MRC). This work builds upon the long-standing relationship that exists between the RVC and partners at LSHTM, NIH and JUST – the relationship with JUST being first initiated through a World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) twinning initiative, with support from the UK Defence, Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) and British Embassy in Jordan.

Professor Javier Guitian, project leader and Professor of Veterinary Public Health at the RVC, said:

“We are very grateful for all the support we’ve received from project partners and funders. This has allowed us to establish a multidisciplinary research team and build a relationship of trust with communities in Southern Jordan, which are central in confronting the global challenge posed by MERS-CoV.”

Professor Punam Mangtani, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, added:

"This is a disease of epidemic potential posing a serious public health risk and one of WHO’s Blueprint priority diseases for research and development.”

Notes to Editors

Reference

Guitian et al. (2021), “Risk Factors for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infection among Camel Populations, Southern Jordan, 2014–2018”, Emerging Infectious Diseases.

The full paper can be accessed here: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/27/9/20-3508_article

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