Molecular detection of MERS-cor virus in the camels in different areas of Iraq

Paper Details

Research Paper 01/01/2019
Views (556)
current_issue_feature_image
publication_file

Molecular detection of MERS-cor virus in the camels in different areas of Iraq

Karar Sabeeh Mahdi, Amin Al-Rawi
Int. J. Biosci. 14(1), 168-173, January 2019.
Copyright Statement: Copyright 2019; The Author(s).
License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Abstract

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a zoonotic viral disease that can be transmitted from dromedaries to human beings. Therefore this study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of MERS-cor virus in the camels during the period from October 2017 to December 2018. A total of 70 nasal swap samples were collected randomly from three different areas in Iraq, (male and female) with age ranged from 14 days to 2 years. Nasal swap samples were divided into identical triazole and transport media for viral RNA extraction and cultivation of the suspected cases for Mers-co virus isolation in embryonic tissue culture cells. The extracted RNA was tested by Nano drop to check RNA concentration and estimation of RNA purity. Cultivation of the samples in embrocated tissue culture cells showed visible CPE after 48 hr. Detection of the Mers-cor virus by real-time PCR showed that two males and 2 females from Najaf and Waist governorate were infected with the virus. In conclusion; Detection of Mers-co virus indicates the importance of the controlling its spread. The propagation and adaptation of the virus to grow and isolated in chicken embryo fibroblast cell culture as the first time work in Iraq is recommended instead of propagation of the virus cell line tissue culture which is not available and not applicable in Iraq.

Adney DR, Van Doremalen N, Brown VR, Bushmaker T, Scott D, de Wit E, Bowen  RA, Munster VJ. 2014. Replication and shedding of MERS-CoV in upper respiratory tract of inoculated dromedary camels. Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal 20(12), 1999-2005. http://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid2012.141280.

Albusalih SF,  Alrodhan MA. 2016. Screening and Molecular Characterization of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus in Human and Camel. M.Sc. Thesis. College of Veterinary Medicine- University of Al-Qadisiya.

Almaghrabi RS, Omrani AS. 2017. Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection. British Journal of Hospital Medicine 78(1), 23-26. http://dx.doi.org/10.12968/hmed.2017.78.1.23.

Gardner LM, Chughtai AA, MacIntyre CR. 2016. Risk of global spread of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) via the air transport network. Journal of Travel Medicine 23(6), 1-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jtm/taw063.

Gautret P, Benkouiten S, Al-Tawfiq JAMemish ZA. 2016. Hajj-associated viral respiratory infections: A systematic review. Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease 14(2), 92-109. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tmaid.2015.12.008.

Gossner C, Danielson N, Gervelmeyer A,  Berthe F,  Faye B,  Kaasik  AK,  Adlhoch C, Zeller H, Penttinen P, Coulombier D. 2016. Human-Dromedary Camel Interactions and the Risk of Acquiring Zoonotic Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infection. Zoonoses Public Health 63(1), 1-9.

Hasan ASH, Karim SA, Usama AA. 2017. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) seropositivity rate among human in Diyala province-Iraq. Iraqi Journal of Community Medicine 30(3), 123-7.

Hemida MG, Elmoslemany A, Al-Hizab FAlnaeem AAlmathen  FFaye BChu DK, Perera RA, Peiris M.  2017. Dromedary Camels and the Transmission of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Transbound. Emerging Disease 64(2), 344-353.

Kuypers J, Jerom KR. 2017 Application of digital PCR for clinical microbiology Journal of Clinical Microbiology 55(6), 1621-1628. http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/JCM.00211-17

Mohd HA, Al-Tawfiq JA, Memish ZA. 2016.  Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) origin and animal reservoir. Virology Journal 13, 87-96.

Okba NM, Raj VS, Haagmans BL. 2017. Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus vaccines: current status and novel approaches. Current Opinion in Virology 23, 49-58.

Omrani AS, Al-Tawfiq JA, Memish ZA. 2015. Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV): animal to human interaction. Pathogens and Global Health 109(8), 354-62. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20477724.2015.1122852.

Song D, Ha G, Serhan WEltahir YYusof M, Hashem FElsayed E, Marzoug B, Abdelazim A, Al Muhairi S. 2015.  Development and validation of a rapid immunochromatographic assay for detection of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus antigen in dromedary camels. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 53(4), 1178-82. http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/JCM.03096-14.

Sue MJ, Yeap SK, Omar AR, Tan SW. 2014.  Application of PCR-ELISA in molecular diagnosis. Biomed. Research International 2014, 653014. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/653014.

Wernery U, Lau SK, Woo PC. 2017.  Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus and dromedaries. Veterinary Journal 220, 75-79. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2016.12.020

Arabi YM, Balkhy HH, Hayden FG, Bouchama A, Luke T, Baillie JK, Al-Omari A, Hajeer AH, Senga M, Denison MR, Nguyen-Van-Tam JS, Shindo N, Bermingham A, Chappell JD, Van Kerkhove MD, Fowler RA. 2017.  Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. The New England Journal of Medicine 376(6), 584-94. http://dx.doi.org/10.1056/NEJMsr1408795.

Younan M, Bornstein S, Gluecks IV. 2016. MERS and the dromedary camel trade between Africa and the Middle East. Tropical Animal Health and Production 48(6), 1277-82. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11250-016-1089-3.

Zaki AM, Van Boheemen S, Bestebroer TM, Osterhaus AD, Fouchier RA. 2012. Isolation of a novel coronavirus from a man with pneumonia in Saudi Arabia. The New England Journal of Medicine 367(19), 1814-1820. http://dx.doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1211721

Zhang K, Lin G, Li J.  2016. Quantitative nucleic acid amplification by digital PCR for clinical viral diagnostics. Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine 54(9), 1427-33. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/cclm-2015-1101

Zhou G, Mao X, Juncker D. 2012. Immunochromatographic assay on thread. Analytical Chemistry 84(18), 7736-43. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ac301082d

Zumla A, Hui DS, Perlman S. 2015. Middle East respiratory syndrome. Lancet 386(9997), 995-1007. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60454-8.

Related Articles

Modelling the current and future distribution of Okoubaka aubrevillei Pellegr. & Normand under climate change scenarios in Côte d’Ivoire

Sié Fernand Pacôme Ouattara, Franck Placide Junior Pagny, Kouassi Bruno Kpangui, Int. J. Biosci. 27(5), 237-246, November 2025.

Proximate analysis of pelleted sorghum-based feeds as substitute for corn

I. I. Juan S. Daquioag, Michael M. Uy, Int. J. Biosci. 27(5), 232-236, November 2025.

Evolution of the weight of carcasses and offal of Cobb 500 broiler chickens according to the age of slaughter

Soro Soronikpoho, Kouadio Kouakou Parfait, Kouassi Koffi Dongo, Brou Gboko Konan Gatien, Int. J. Biosci. 27(5), 225-231, November 2025.

Agronomic performance of the newly pruned coffee trees at the CSU Lal-lo old coffee plantation

Maribel L. Fernandez, Florante Victor M. Balatico, Ronel A. Collado, Int. J. Biosci. 27(5), 217-224, November 2025.

A comprehensive review and meta-analysis on Alzheimer’s genetics: Exploring the genetic architecture and its application in future genomic medicine

Shafee Ur Rehman, Shabeer Khan, Muhammad Usman, Sakarie Khadar Ibrahim, Int. J. Biosci. 27(5), 204-216, November 2025.

Effect of aqueous leaf extract of Senna occidentalis (Fabaceae) on induced arrhythmia in Rabbits

Obrou Jean Luc Amiltone, Nagalo Ousmane, Mossoun Mossoun Arsène, Abo Kouakou Jean-Claude, Int. J. Biosci. 27(5), 198-203, November 2025.

Targeting proteolytic enzymes in the hemoglobin degradation pathway to inhibit Plasmodium falciparum: An in silico approach

Sethupathi Virumandi, Elumalai Balamurugan, Aakash Ganesan, Sowmiya Ganesan, Srinidhi Raveenthiran, Int. J. Biosci. 27(5), 182-197, November 2025.

Composition and variation of milk from Djallonké goats fed with different diets in Burkina Faso

Alice Gisèle Sidibé-Anago, Vinsoun Millogo, Assouan Gabriel Bonou, Remadji Rufine Djikoldingam, Mariétou Sissao, Michel Kéré, Guy Apollinaire Mensah, Int. J. Biosci. 27(5), 173-181, November 2025.