Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus neutralising serum antibodies in dromedary camels: a comparative serological study

Chantal B E M Reusken; Bart L Haagmans; Marcel A Müller; Carlos Gutierrez; Gert-Jan Godeke; Benjamin Meyer; Doreen Muth; V Stalin Raj; Laura Smits-De Vries; Victor M Corman; Jan-Felix Drexler; Saskia L Smits; Yasmin E El Tahir; Rita De Sousa; Janko van Beek; Norbert Nowotny; Kees van Maanen; Ezequiel Hidalgo-Hermoso; Berend-Jan Bosch; Peter Rottier; Albert Osterhaus; Christian Gortázar-Schmidt; Christian Drosten; Marion P G Koopmans

doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(13)70164-6

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus neutralising serum antibodies in dromedary camels: a comparative serological study

Chantal B E M Reusken, Bart L Haagmans, Marcel A Müller, Carlos Gutierrez, Gert-Jan Godeke, Benjamin Meyer, Doreen Muth, V Stalin Raj, Laura Smits-De Vries, Victor M Corman, Jan-Felix Drexler, Saskia L Smits, Yasmin E El Tahir, Rita De Sousa, Janko van Beek, Norbert Nowotny, Kees van Maanen, Ezequiel Hidalgo-Hermoso, Berend-Jan Bosch, Peter RottierAlbert Osterhaus, Christian Gortázar-Schmidt, Christian Drosten, Marion P G Koopmans

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: A new betacoronavirus-Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV)-has been identified in patients with severe acute respiratory infection. Although related viruses infect bats, molecular clock analyses have been unable to identify direct ancestors of MERS-CoV. Anecdotal exposure histories suggest that patients had been in contact with dromedary camels or goats. We investigated possible animal reservoirs of MERS-CoV by assessing specific serum antibodies in livestock.

METHODS: We took sera from animals in the Middle East (Oman) and from elsewhere (Spain, Netherlands, Chile). Cattle (n=80), sheep (n=40), goats (n=40), dromedary camels (n=155), and various other camelid species (n=34) were tested for specific serum IgG by protein microarray using the receptor-binding S1 subunits of spike proteins of MERS-CoV, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, and human coronavirus OC43. Results were confirmed by virus neutralisation tests for MERS-CoV and bovine coronavirus.

FINDINGS: 50 of 50 (100%) sera from Omani camels and 15 of 105 (14%) from Spanish camels had protein-specific antibodies against MERS-CoV spike. Sera from European sheep, goats, cattle, and other camelids had no such antibodies. MERS-CoV neutralising antibody titres varied between 1/320 and 1/2560 for the Omani camel sera and between 1/20 and 1/320 for the Spanish camel sera. There was no evidence for cross-neutralisation by bovine coronavirus antibodies.

INTERPRETATION: MERS-CoV or a related virus has infected camel populations. Both titres and seroprevalences in sera from different locations in Oman suggest widespread infection.

FUNDING: European Union, European Centre For Disease Prevention and Control, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	859-66
Number of pages	8
Journal	The Lancet Infectious Diseases
Volume	13
Issue number	10
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(13)70164-6
Publication status	Published - 2013

Bibliographical note

Keywords

Animals
Antibodies, Neutralizing
Antibodies, Viral
Camelids, New World
Camels
Cattle
Coronavirus
Female
Goats
Humans
Immunoglobulin G
Male
Sheep

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Reusken, C. B. E. M., Haagmans, B. L., Müller, M. A., Gutierrez, C., Godeke, G.-J., Meyer, B., Muth, D., Raj, V. S., Smits-De Vries, L., Corman, V. M., Drexler, J.-F., Smits, S. L., El Tahir, Y. E., De Sousa, R., van Beek, J., Nowotny, N., van Maanen, K., Hidalgo-Hermoso, E., Bosch, B.-J., ... Koopmans, M. P. G. (2013). Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus neutralising serum antibodies in dromedary camels: a comparative serological study. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 13(10), 859-66. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(13)70164-6

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abstract = "BACKGROUND: A new betacoronavirus-Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV)-has been identified in patients with severe acute respiratory infection. Although related viruses infect bats, molecular clock analyses have been unable to identify direct ancestors of MERS-CoV. Anecdotal exposure histories suggest that patients had been in contact with dromedary camels or goats. We investigated possible animal reservoirs of MERS-CoV by assessing specific serum antibodies in livestock.METHODS: We took sera from animals in the Middle East (Oman) and from elsewhere (Spain, Netherlands, Chile). Cattle (n=80), sheep (n=40), goats (n=40), dromedary camels (n=155), and various other camelid species (n=34) were tested for specific serum IgG by protein microarray using the receptor-binding S1 subunits of spike proteins of MERS-CoV, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, and human coronavirus OC43. Results were confirmed by virus neutralisation tests for MERS-CoV and bovine coronavirus.FINDINGS: 50 of 50 (100%) sera from Omani camels and 15 of 105 (14%) from Spanish camels had protein-specific antibodies against MERS-CoV spike. Sera from European sheep, goats, cattle, and other camelids had no such antibodies. MERS-CoV neutralising antibody titres varied between 1/320 and 1/2560 for the Omani camel sera and between 1/20 and 1/320 for the Spanish camel sera. There was no evidence for cross-neutralisation by bovine coronavirus antibodies.INTERPRETATION: MERS-CoV or a related virus has infected camel populations. Both titres and seroprevalences in sera from different locations in Oman suggest widespread infection.FUNDING: European Union, European Centre For Disease Prevention and Control, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.",

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year = "2013",

doi = "10.1016/S1473-3099(13)70164-6",

language = "English",

volume = "13",

pages = "859--66",

journal = "The Lancet Infectious Diseases",

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Reusken, CBEM, Haagmans, BL, Müller, MA, Gutierrez, C, Godeke, G-J, Meyer, B, Muth, D, Raj, VS, Smits-De Vries, L, Corman, VM, Drexler, J-F, Smits, SL, El Tahir, YE, De Sousa, R, van Beek, J, Nowotny, N, van Maanen, K, Hidalgo-Hermoso, E, Bosch, B-J , Rottier, P, Osterhaus, A, Gortázar-Schmidt, C, Drosten, C & Koopmans, MPG 2013, 'Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus neutralising serum antibodies in dromedary camels: a comparative serological study', The Lancet Infectious Diseases, vol. 13, no. 10, pp. 859-66. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(13)70164-6

TY - JOUR

T1 - Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus neutralising serum antibodies in dromedary camels

T2 - a comparative serological study

AU - Reusken, Chantal B E M

AU - Haagmans, Bart L

AU - Müller, Marcel A

AU - Gutierrez, Carlos

AU - Godeke, Gert-Jan

AU - Meyer, Benjamin

AU - Muth, Doreen

AU - Raj, V Stalin

AU - Smits-De Vries, Laura

AU - Corman, Victor M

AU - Drexler, Jan-Felix

AU - Smits, Saskia L

AU - El Tahir, Yasmin E

AU - De Sousa, Rita

AU - van Beek, Janko

AU - Nowotny, Norbert

AU - van Maanen, Kees

AU - Hidalgo-Hermoso, Ezequiel

AU - Bosch, Berend-Jan

AU - Rottier, Peter

AU - Osterhaus, Albert

AU - Gortázar-Schmidt, Christian

AU - Drosten, Christian

AU - Koopmans, Marion P G

PY - 2013

Y1 - 2013

N2 - BACKGROUND: A new betacoronavirus-Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV)-has been identified in patients with severe acute respiratory infection. Although related viruses infect bats, molecular clock analyses have been unable to identify direct ancestors of MERS-CoV. Anecdotal exposure histories suggest that patients had been in contact with dromedary camels or goats. We investigated possible animal reservoirs of MERS-CoV by assessing specific serum antibodies in livestock.METHODS: We took sera from animals in the Middle East (Oman) and from elsewhere (Spain, Netherlands, Chile). Cattle (n=80), sheep (n=40), goats (n=40), dromedary camels (n=155), and various other camelid species (n=34) were tested for specific serum IgG by protein microarray using the receptor-binding S1 subunits of spike proteins of MERS-CoV, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, and human coronavirus OC43. Results were confirmed by virus neutralisation tests for MERS-CoV and bovine coronavirus.FINDINGS: 50 of 50 (100%) sera from Omani camels and 15 of 105 (14%) from Spanish camels had protein-specific antibodies against MERS-CoV spike. Sera from European sheep, goats, cattle, and other camelids had no such antibodies. MERS-CoV neutralising antibody titres varied between 1/320 and 1/2560 for the Omani camel sera and between 1/20 and 1/320 for the Spanish camel sera. There was no evidence for cross-neutralisation by bovine coronavirus antibodies.INTERPRETATION: MERS-CoV or a related virus has infected camel populations. Both titres and seroprevalences in sera from different locations in Oman suggest widespread infection.FUNDING: European Union, European Centre For Disease Prevention and Control, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.

AB - BACKGROUND: A new betacoronavirus-Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV)-has been identified in patients with severe acute respiratory infection. Although related viruses infect bats, molecular clock analyses have been unable to identify direct ancestors of MERS-CoV. Anecdotal exposure histories suggest that patients had been in contact with dromedary camels or goats. We investigated possible animal reservoirs of MERS-CoV by assessing specific serum antibodies in livestock.METHODS: We took sera from animals in the Middle East (Oman) and from elsewhere (Spain, Netherlands, Chile). Cattle (n=80), sheep (n=40), goats (n=40), dromedary camels (n=155), and various other camelid species (n=34) were tested for specific serum IgG by protein microarray using the receptor-binding S1 subunits of spike proteins of MERS-CoV, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, and human coronavirus OC43. Results were confirmed by virus neutralisation tests for MERS-CoV and bovine coronavirus.FINDINGS: 50 of 50 (100%) sera from Omani camels and 15 of 105 (14%) from Spanish camels had protein-specific antibodies against MERS-CoV spike. Sera from European sheep, goats, cattle, and other camelids had no such antibodies. MERS-CoV neutralising antibody titres varied between 1/320 and 1/2560 for the Omani camel sera and between 1/20 and 1/320 for the Spanish camel sera. There was no evidence for cross-neutralisation by bovine coronavirus antibodies.INTERPRETATION: MERS-CoV or a related virus has infected camel populations. Both titres and seroprevalences in sera from different locations in Oman suggest widespread infection.FUNDING: European Union, European Centre For Disease Prevention and Control, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.

KW - Animals

KW - Antibodies, Neutralizing

KW - Antibodies, Viral

KW - Camelids, New World

KW - Camels

KW - Cattle

KW - Coronavirus

KW - Female

KW - Goats

KW - Humans

KW - Immunoglobulin G

KW - Male

KW - Sheep

U2 - 10.1016/S1473-3099(13)70164-6

DO - 10.1016/S1473-3099(13)70164-6

M3 - Article

C2 - 23933067

SN - 1473-3099

VL - 13

SP - 859

EP - 866

JO - The Lancet Infectious Diseases

JF - The Lancet Infectious Diseases

IS - 10

ER -

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus neutralising serum antibodies in dromedary camels: a comparative serological study

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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