Background Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a zoonotic threat of global public health concern and dromedary camels are the source of zoonotic infection. Although MERS-CoV is enzootic in dromedaries in Africa as well as the Middle East, zoonotic disease has not been reported in Africa. Methods : In an abattoir in Kano, Nigeria, we tested nasal swabs from camels and investigated 261 humans with repeated occupational exposure to camels, many of whom also reported drinking fresh camel milk (n = 138) or urine (n = 94) or using camel urine for medicinal purposes (n = 96). Results : Weekly MERS-CoV RNA detection in January–February 2016 ranged from 0–8.4% of camels sampled. None of the abattoir workers with exposure to camels had evidence of neutralising antibody to MERS-CoV. Conclusion : There is a need for more studies to investigate whether or not zoonotic transmission of MERS-CoV does take place in Africa.
【저자키워드】 coronavirus, serology, Human, MERS, occupational exposure, Camel, abattoir, 【초록키워드】 Infection, Nigeria, MERS-CoV, neutralising antibody, zoonotic, Urine, nasal swab, Evidence, Middle East, global public health, zoonotic transmission, zoonotic disease, respiratory syndrome coronavirus, repeated, Result, tested, reported, investigated, zoonotic threat, ranged, Weekly, MERS-CoV RNA, 【제목키워드】 Infection, Nigeria, virus, Middle East, respiratory syndrome coronavirus, serological evidence,