Abstract
The pseudoparticle virus neutralisation test (ppNT) and a conventional microneutralisation (MN) assay are specific for detecting antibodies to Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) when used in seroepidemiological studies in animals. Genetically diverse MERS-CoV appear antigenically similar in MN tests. We confirm that MERS-CoV was circulating in dromedaries in Saudi Arabia in 1993. Preliminary data suggest that feral Australian dromedaries may be free of MERS-CoV but larger confirmatory studies are needed.
Publication types
- Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
- Animals
- Antibodies, Neutralizing / blood*
- Antibodies, Viral / blood*
- Australia / epidemiology
- Camelus / blood*
- Cattle / blood
- Coronavirus / immunology*
- Coronavirus / isolation & purification
- Coronavirus Infections / blood
- Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
- Coronavirus Infections / virology
- Humans
- Immunoglobulin G / blood
- Neutralization Tests / methods*
- Prevalence
- Respiratory Tract Infections / blood
- Respiratory Tract Infections / epidemiology*
- Respiratory Tract Infections / virology
- Saudi Arabia / epidemiology
- Seroepidemiologic Studies
Substances
- Antibodies, Neutralizing
- Antibodies, Viral
- Immunoglobulin G