Molecular detection of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Tunisian dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius)
Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), camels, Tunisia, RT-PCR, animal surveillance, Coronavirus (CoVs), molecular detection
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was identified in humans in 2012. Dromedary camels were considered as the major reservoir of the virus throw several studies. Tunisian dromedary camels were implicated in a serological survey and a seropositivity reaching 100% was observed among some of them. Therefore, more investigations are necessary to look for the current infection situation. In this study, we aimed to detect the MERS-CoV virus in our camels by molecular technics. Blood and nasal swabs samples from 64 dromedary camels from 4 Tunisian provinces were collected during June 2014 and April 2015. All the animals tested negative by real time reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction assay (RT-PCR). These findings could not confirm the absence of MERS-CoV active shading among the Tunisian camel population and more researches should be carried on to survey dromedary camels in Tunisia and its neighboring countries.
Z. AZAOUZI, M.H. JEMLI, L. Messadi, I. ZAOUIA, M.A. BEN HADJ KACEM
Revue Marocaine des Sciences Agronomiques et Vétérinaires
Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II