Abstract
Antibodies to Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) were detected in serum and milk collected according to local customs from 33 camels in Qatar, April 2014. At one location, evidence for active virus shedding in nasal secretions and/or faeces was observed for 7/12 camels; viral RNA was detected in milk of five of these seven camels. The presence of MERS-CoV RNA in milk of camels actively shedding the virus warrants measures to prevent putative food-borne transmission of MERS-CoV.
Highlights
In 2012, MERS-CoV was identified in patients with severe respiratory illness in the Middle East [2]
Raw milk from dromedaries has been consumed by humans for thousands of years and is thought to have healing properties when consumed ‘hot’, directly out of the udder [22]
Food-borne transmission is a putative route of zoonotic transmission of MERS-CoV that needs further investigation
Summary
In 2012, MERS-CoV was identified in patients with severe respiratory illness in the Middle East [2]. A large proportion of cases of MERS-CoV infection is community acquired, with suspected zoonotic transmission, the extent thereof remains to be determined [5]. Dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) are the prime suspects to serve as an animal reservoir for MERS-CoV, alternative sources remain possible [6,7,8,9,10,11]. In August 2013, dromedary camels were implicated for the first time as a possible source of the virus leading to human infection on the basis of the presence of MERSCoV neutralising antibodies in dromedaries from Oman and the Canary Islands of Spain [6]. Table Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) analysis of serum, nasal and rectal swabs and milk of dairy dromedary camels, Al Shahaniya, Qatar, April 2014 (n=12)
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