Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) seropositive camel handlers in Kenya

Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a respiratory disease caused by a zoonotic coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Camel handlers, including slaughterhouse workers and herders, are at risk of acquiring MERS-CoV infections. However, there is limited evidence of infections among camel handlers in Africa. T...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kiyong'a, A.N., Cook, Elizabeth A.J., Okba, N.M.A., Kivali, V., Reuksen, C., Haagmans, B.L., Fèvre, Eric M.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: MDPI 2020
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/107946
_version_ 1855542247044415488
author Kiyong'a, A.N.
Cook, Elizabeth A.J.
Okba, N.M.A.
Kivali, V.
Reuksen, C.
Haagmans, B.L.
Fèvre, Eric M.
author_browse Cook, Elizabeth A.J.
Fèvre, Eric M.
Haagmans, B.L.
Kivali, V.
Kiyong'a, A.N.
Okba, N.M.A.
Reuksen, C.
author_facet Kiyong'a, A.N.
Cook, Elizabeth A.J.
Okba, N.M.A.
Kivali, V.
Reuksen, C.
Haagmans, B.L.
Fèvre, Eric M.
author_sort Kiyong'a, A.N.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a respiratory disease caused by a zoonotic coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Camel handlers, including slaughterhouse workers and herders, are at risk of acquiring MERS-CoV infections. However, there is limited evidence of infections among camel handlers in Africa. The purpose of this study was to determine the presence of antibodies to MERS-CoV in high-risk groups in Kenya. Sera collected from 93 camel handlers, 58 slaughterhouse workers and 35 camel herders, were screened for MERS-CoV antibodies using ELISA and PRNT. We found four seropositive slaughterhouse workers by PRNT. Risk factors amongst the slaughterhouse workers included being the slaughterman (the person who cuts the throat of the camel) and drinking camel blood. Further research is required to understand the epidemiology of MERS-CoV in Africa in relation to occupational risk, with a need for additional studies on the transmission of MERS-CoV from dromedary camels to humans, seroprevalence and associated risk factors.
format Journal Article
id CGSpace107946
institution CGIAR Consortium
language Inglés
publishDate 2020
publishDateRange 2020
publishDateSort 2020
publisher MDPI
publisherStr MDPI
record_format dspace
spelling CGSpace1079462023-12-08T19:36:04Z Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) seropositive camel handlers in Kenya Kiyong'a, A.N. Cook, Elizabeth A.J. Okba, N.M.A. Kivali, V. Reuksen, C. Haagmans, B.L. Fèvre, Eric M. camels zoonoses animal diseases viruses Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a respiratory disease caused by a zoonotic coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Camel handlers, including slaughterhouse workers and herders, are at risk of acquiring MERS-CoV infections. However, there is limited evidence of infections among camel handlers in Africa. The purpose of this study was to determine the presence of antibodies to MERS-CoV in high-risk groups in Kenya. Sera collected from 93 camel handlers, 58 slaughterhouse workers and 35 camel herders, were screened for MERS-CoV antibodies using ELISA and PRNT. We found four seropositive slaughterhouse workers by PRNT. Risk factors amongst the slaughterhouse workers included being the slaughterman (the person who cuts the throat of the camel) and drinking camel blood. Further research is required to understand the epidemiology of MERS-CoV in Africa in relation to occupational risk, with a need for additional studies on the transmission of MERS-CoV from dromedary camels to humans, seroprevalence and associated risk factors. 2020-04-03 2020-04-07T15:17:52Z 2020-04-07T15:17:52Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/107946 en Open Access MDPI Kiyong'a, A.N., Cook, E.A.J., Okba, N.M.A., Kivali, V., Reuksen, C., Haagmans, B.L. and Fèvre, E.M. 2020. Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) seropositive camel handlers in Kenya. Viruses 12(4): 396.
spellingShingle camels
zoonoses
animal diseases
viruses
Kiyong'a, A.N.
Cook, Elizabeth A.J.
Okba, N.M.A.
Kivali, V.
Reuksen, C.
Haagmans, B.L.
Fèvre, Eric M.
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) seropositive camel handlers in Kenya
title Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) seropositive camel handlers in Kenya
title_full Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) seropositive camel handlers in Kenya
title_fullStr Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) seropositive camel handlers in Kenya
title_full_unstemmed Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) seropositive camel handlers in Kenya
title_short Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) seropositive camel handlers in Kenya
title_sort middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus mers cov seropositive camel handlers in kenya
topic camels
zoonoses
animal diseases
viruses
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/107946
work_keys_str_mv AT kiyongaan middleeastrespiratorysyndromecoronavirusmerscovseropositivecamelhandlersinkenya
AT cookelizabethaj middleeastrespiratorysyndromecoronavirusmerscovseropositivecamelhandlersinkenya
AT okbanma middleeastrespiratorysyndromecoronavirusmerscovseropositivecamelhandlersinkenya
AT kivaliv middleeastrespiratorysyndromecoronavirusmerscovseropositivecamelhandlersinkenya
AT reuksenc middleeastrespiratorysyndromecoronavirusmerscovseropositivecamelhandlersinkenya
AT haagmansbl middleeastrespiratorysyndromecoronavirusmerscovseropositivecamelhandlersinkenya
AT fevreericm middleeastrespiratorysyndromecoronavirusmerscovseropositivecamelhandlersinkenya