Proved to be camel infected with MERS-CoV virus

Dutch and Qatar scientists announced on December 17 that they had proved camels infected with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) virus.

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The new finding reinforces the suspicion that animals can be a source of outbreaks in humans.

Using viral gene analysis techniques , scientists have shown that three of the 14 camels (one type of tumor) at a farm in Qatar, where two people infected with MERS-CoV , are also infected. Infection with this type of dangerous respiratory virus.

The team collected clinical specimens including nasal mucosa, blood and rectum specimens along with stool samples from 14 camels living in a stable in Qatar. About a week earlier, the owner of the farm was also diagnosed with MERS-CoV infection.

Photo: npr.org

Specimens were transferred to a Dutch laboratory to analyze viral genes and antibody tests.

Results showed that MERS-CoV virus existed in 3 out of 14 tested camels.

The researchers said that although not completely duplicated, the viral sequencing of the three infected camels is very similar to the viral gene found in two patients in the same area.

They also stressed that in the 14 camels tested, antibodies against MERS-CoV were found. This proves that MERS-CoV virus may have been transmitted between these animals, so they have formed a mechanism to protect the immune system against infection.

However, researchers believe it is too early to conclude whether these camels are a source of MERS-CoV for two patients or vice versa.

They said more research was needed before the official announcement and did not rule out the possibility that both humans and camels may have been infected with MERS-CoV virus from an unknown third host, or objects. Other common farming such as cattle, goats, sheep .

Just like the SARS virus that has previously occurred in Asia in 2003, the MERS-CoV virus also causes flu symptoms and is thought to be transmitted from animals to humans.

More dangerous, MERS-CoV virus can cause kidney failure and death rate in infected people up to 51%.

So far, the MERS-CoV virus has claimed 71 lives out of 163 cases worldwide.