Challenge infection model for MERS-CoV based on naturally infected camels

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is an emerging virus that infects humans and camels with no approved antiviral therapy or vaccine. Some vaccines are in development for camels as a one-health intervention where vaccinating camels is proposed to reduce human viral exposure. Thi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Virology journal 2020-06, Vol.17 (1), p.1-77, Article 77
Main Authors: Alharbi, Naif Khalaf, Ibrahim, Osman H, Alhafufi, Ali, Kasem, Samy, Aldowerij, Ali, Albrahim, Raed, Abu-obaidah, Ali, Alkarar, Ali, Bayoumi, Faisal Altaib, Almansour, Ali Mohammed, Aldubaib, Musaad, Al-Abdely, Hail M, Balkhy, Hanan H, Qasim, Ibrahim
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age
Antibodies
Antiviral agents
Biohazards
Camelidae
Camelus dromedarius
Challenge model
Coronaviruses
Disease control
Disease transmission
Dromedary camels
Farms
Health aspects
Infections
Medical research
MERS-CoV
Middle East respiratory syndrome
Provinces
Respiratory diseases
Saudi Arabia
Serology
Seroprevalence
Studies
Vaccination
Vaccine efficacy
Vaccines
Viral infections
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Summary:Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is an emerging virus that infects humans and camels with no approved antiviral therapy or vaccine. Some vaccines are in development for camels as a one-health intervention where vaccinating camels is proposed to reduce human viral exposure. This intervention will require an understanding of the prior exposure of camels to the virus and appropriate vaccine efficacy studies in camels. We conducted a cross sectional seroprevalence study in young dromedary camels to determine the rate of MERS-CoV seropositivity in young camels. Next, we utilised naturally infected camels as a natural challenge model that can be used by co-housing these camels with healthy naive camels in a ratio of 1 to 2. This model is aimed to support studies on natural virus transmission as well as evaluating drug and vaccine efficacy. We found that 90% of the screened camels have pre-existing antibodies for MERS-CoV. In addition, the challenge model resulted in MERS-CoV transmission within 48 h with infections that continued for 14 days post challenge. Our finding suggests that the majority of young dromedary camels in Saudi Arabia are seropositive and that naturally infected camels can serve as a challenge model to assess transmission, therapeutics, and vaccine efficacy.
ISSN:1743-422X
1743-422X
DOI:10.1186/s12985-020-01347-5