No molecular evidence of MERS-CoV circulation in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia between 2010-2012: a single-center retrospective study.

Reem J Alamoudi,Esam I Azhar,Dena H Alamoudi,Anwar M Hashem,Rowa Yousef Alhabbab,Dareen H Alamoudi,Ahmed M Tolah,Leena E Azhar

doi:10.3855/jidc.9523

Reem J Alamoudi, Esam I Azhar + Show 6 more

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https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.9523

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Abstract

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is an emerging zoonotic viral pathogen and a serious public health concern. The virus was first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and continues to be endemic in the region. Most of the initial MERS-CoV cases in 2012 and early 2013 were sporadic, and it remains unclear whether MERS-CoV was circulating before 2012 or not. Therefore, we tried here to find any molecular evidence of MERS-CoV circulation in humans before or during 2012 in the city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. We examined 349 archived respiratory samples collected between January 2010 and December 2012 from patients with acute respiratory illnesses from the city of Jeddah in Western Saudi Arabia. All samples were screened for MERS-CoV by real-time RT-PCR targeting the upstream E-gene (UpE) and the open reading frame 1 a (ORF1a). All tested samples which were originally found negative for influenza A H1N1 virus were also found to be negative for MERS-CoV. These results suggest that circulation of MERS-CoV was uncommon among patients with acute respiratory symptoms in Western Saudi Arabia between 2010 and 2012.

Highlights

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is an emerging zoonotic viral pathogen and a serious public health concern
A total of 349 archived respiratory samples collected between January 2010 and December 2012 from patients with acute respiratory illnesses (Table) at the King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia were retrieved
All samples were collected originally for influenza A H1N1 screening at the Special Infectious Agents Unit (SIAU), King Fahd Medical Research Center (KFMRC) before the emergence of MERS-CoV in Saudi Arabia

Summary

Introduction

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is an emerging zoonotic viral pathogen and a serious public health concern. We tried here to find any molecular evidence of MERS-CoV circulation in humans before or during 2012 in the city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Conclusions: These results suggest that circulation of MERS-CoV was uncommon among patients with acute respiratory symptoms in Western Saudi Arabia between 2010 and 2012. Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was reported after the death of a patient (patient zero) suffering from severe respiratory illness in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia [1]. This case was initially admitted to a hospital back in June 13, 2012, with symptom onset starting 7 days before. Saudi Arabia has reported more than 82% of the cases (1581 laboratory confirmed cases) with local death rate exceeding 41% (659 deaths) [5]

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