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. 2019 Nov;24(48):1900244.
doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2019.24.48.1900244.

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) neutralising antibodies in a high-risk human population, Morocco, November 2017 to January 2018

Anass Abbad  1   2   3 , Ranawaka Apm Perera  4   3 , Latifa Anga  1 , Abdellah Faouzi  1 , Nhu Nguyen Tran Minh  5 , Sk Md Mamunur Rahman Malik  5 , Nadia Iounes  2 , Abderrahmane Maaroufi  1 , Maria D Van Kerkhove  6 , Malik Peiris  4   7 , Jalal Nourlil  1
Affiliations

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) neutralising antibodies in a high-risk human population, Morocco, November 2017 to January 2018

Anass Abbad et al. Euro Surveill. 2019 Nov.

Abstract

BackgroundMiddle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) remains a major concern for global public health. Dromedaries are the source of human zoonotic infection. MERS-CoV is enzootic among dromedaries on the Arabian Peninsula, the Middle East and in Africa. Over 70% of infected dromedaries are found in Africa. However, all known zoonotic cases of MERS have occurred in the Arabian Peninsula with none being reported in Africa.AimWe aimed to investigate serological evidence of MERS-CoV infection in humans living in camel-herding areas in Morocco to provide insights on whether zoonotic transmission is taking place.MethodsWe carried out a cross sectional seroprevalence study from November 2017 through January 2018. We adapted a generic World Health Organization MERS-CoV questionnaire and protocol to assess demographic and risk factors of infection among a presumed high-risk population. ELISA, MERS-CoV spike pseudoparticle neutralisation tests (ppNT) and plaque neutralisation tests (PRNT) were used to assess MERS-CoV seropositivity.ResultsSerum samples were collected from camel slaughterhouse workers (n = 137), camel herders (n = 156) and individuals of the general population without occupational contact with camels but living in camel herding areas (n = 186). MERS-CoV neutralising antibodies with ≥ 90% reduction of plaque numbers were detected in two (1.5%) slaughterhouse workers, none of the camel herders and one individual from the general population (0.5%).ConclusionsThis study provides evidence of zoonotic transmission of MERS-CoV in Morocco in people who have direct or indirect exposure to dromedary camels.

Keywords: MERS-CoV; Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus; Morocco; dromedaries; transmission; zoonosis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure
Figure
Scatter-plot showing correlation between ELISA OD ratios and the MERS spike pseudotype virus neutralisation antibody titres, Morocco, 2017–2018
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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