Novel Betacoronavirus in Dromedaries of the Middle East, 2013

Patrick C.Y Woo,Bobby Johnson,Alan K.L Tsang,Kwok-Hung Chan,Saritha Sivakumar,Susanna K.P Lau,Ulrich Wernery,Cyril C.Y Yip,Kwok-Yung Yuen,Candy C.Y Lau,Rachel Y.Y Fan,Ringu Mareena,Jian-Piao Cai,Emily Y.M Wong

doi:10.3201/eid2004.131769

Abstract

In 2013, a novel betacoronavirus was identified in fecal samples from dromedaries in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Antibodies against the recombinant nucleocapsid protein of the virus, which we named dromedary camel coronavirus (DcCoV) UAE-HKU23, were detected in 52% of 59 dromedary serum samples tested. In an analysis of 3 complete DcCoV UAE-HKU23 genomes, we identified the virus as a betacoronavirus in lineage A1. The DcCoV UAE-HKU23 genome has G+C contents; a general preference for G/C in the third position of codons; a cleavage site for spike protein; and a membrane protein of similar length to that of other betacoronavirus A1 members, to which DcCoV UAE-HKU23 is phylogenetically closely related. Along with this coronavirus, viruses of at least 8 other families have been found to infect camels. Because camels have a close association with humans, continuous surveillance should be conducted to understand the potential for virus emergence in camels and for virus transmission to humans.

Highlights

In 2013, a novel betacoronavirus was identified in fecal samples from dromedaries in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Real-time quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) showed that the amounts of dromedary camel coronavirus (DcCoV) UAE-HKU23 RNA ranged from 5.7 × 104 copies/mL to 9.8 × 107 copies/mL in the 14 fecal samples positive for DcCoV UAE-HKU23 (Table 1)
We discovered a novel CoV, DcCoV UAE-HKU23, from 4.8% of 293 fecal samples collected from dromedaries in Dubai

Summary

Introduction

In 2013, a novel betacoronavirus was identified in fecal samples from dromedaries in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The DcCoV UAE-HKU23 genome has G+C contents; a general preference for G/C in the third position of codons; a cleavage site for spike protein; and a membrane protein of similar length to that of other betacoronavirus A1 members, to which DcCoV UAEHKU23 is phylogenetically closely related. Along with this coronavirus, viruses of at least 8 other families have been found to infect camels. To further knowledge of the evolution and dissemination of CoVs, we conducted a molecular epidemiology study of fecal samples obtained from dromedaries in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Methods

Results

Conclusion