Abstract
Host reservoirs other than dromedaries for the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) still to be unknown. Equine Herpesviruses (EHVs) are widespread in equine populations worldwide. In this study, the presence of MERS-CoV, Equine Herpesviruses type 1 (EHV-1) and 4 (EHV-4) in horses in Najran, southwestern of Saudi Arabia was investigated. One hundred and thirty four blood samples collected from horses of different ages and sex. The samples tested for the presence of specific antibodies by ELISA and viral RNA and DNA by PCR. The ELISA results were positive for equine herpesviruses 1 and 4 with percent of 23.1 and 70.8% respectively; while all tested samples were negative for MERS-CoV. The PCR results showed that all samples were negative for all three viruses. As the history of the horses showed no previous vaccination or infection with equine herpesviruses, these results might refer to equine herpes subclinical infection. The results indicate also that horses were free from MESR-CoV infection.
Highlights
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) first appeared in 2012 in Saudi Arabia and is a worldwide concern (Zaki et al, 2012)
Anti-MERS-CoV IgG ELISA results showed that all 134 samples were negative for MERS-CoV antibodies
While out of the 134 tested samples for herpesviruses, 31 samples were positive for Equine Herpesviruses (EHVs)-1 and 95 samples were positive for EHV-4 (Table 1)
Summary
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) first appeared in 2012 in Saudi Arabia and is a worldwide concern (Zaki et al, 2012). EHV-1 and EHV-4 have the most impact on equine industry (Davison et al, 2009) Both viruses are highly contagious and spread from horse to horse by inhalation of respiratory secretions, as well as direct contact. EHV-1 has a wider host range than that of EHV-4 and can result in neonatal death, abortions, respiratory disease and Equine Herpes virus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) (Ma et al, 2013). The virus spreads systematically through infected mononuclear cells to central nervous system or the pregnant uterus leading to neurological disease or abortion (Patel and Heldens, 2005; Allen et al, 2004). The first one was to determine the prevalence of infection with equine herpesviruses 1 and 4; and the second was to investigate MERS-CoV infection situation in horses
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