title: Serological Evidence of MERS-CoV Antibodies in Dromedary Camels (Camelus dromedaries) in Laikipia County, Kenya.
abstract: Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a recently identified virus causing severe viral respiratory illness in people. Little is known about the reservoir in the Horn of Africa. In Kenya, where no human MERS cases have been reported, our survey of 335 dromedary camels, representing nine herds in Laikipia County, showed a high seroprevalence (46.9%) to MERS-CoV antibodies. Between herd differences were present (14.3%- 82.9%), but was not related to management type or herd isolation. Further research should focus on identifying similarity between MERS-CoV viral isolates in Kenya and clinical isolates from the Middle East and elsewhere.
authors.affiliation: Saint Louis Zoo Institute for Conservation Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America.
authors.forename: Sharon L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Deem
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, United Kingdom; International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: Eric M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Fèvre
authors.affiliation: Mpala Research Centre, Nanyuki, Kenya; Wildlife Conservation Society, Global Conservation Programs, Bronx, New York, United States of America.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kinnaird
authors.affiliation: Molecular Epidemiology and Public Health Laboratory, Hopkirk Research Institute, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
authors.forename: A Springer
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Browne
authors.affiliation: International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: Dishon
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Muloi
authors.affiliation: Netherlands Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Gert-Jan
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Godeke
authors.affiliation: Netherlands Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands; Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koopmans
authors.affiliation: Netherlands Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Chantal B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Reusken
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002162:Camelus / Q000097:blood* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D065207:Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral