Serological Screening for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus and Hepatitis E Virus in Camels in Kazakhstan

Kobey Karamendin, Aigerim Seidalina, Temirlan Sabyrzhan, Sardоr Nuralibekov, Yermukhammet Kasymbekov, Symbat Suleimenova, Yelizaveta Khan, Oralbek Alikhanov, Uldana Narsha, Kaliya Yerkekulova

1 more author

Aidyn I. Kydyrmanov

2022

Full text Open access: Gold Metadata (CSL-JSON)
DOI 10.3390/pathogens11111224
Data confidence 70 medium
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Abstract

After the recent Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) pandemic in 2013, more attention has been paid to the camel as an important source of zoonotic viral infections. Almost simultaneously, in 2013, new genotypes 7 and 8 of the hepatitis E virus (HEV) were discovered in dromedary and Bactrian camels, respectively. HEV 7 was further shown to be associated with chronic viral hepatitis in a transplant recipient. In this study, serological screening for antibodies to MERS-CoV and hepatitis E virus was carried out on large camel farms in the south and west of Kazakhstan. 6.42% of the tested camels were found to be positive for antibodies to the hepatitis E virus, which indicates its circulation in local camel population. For the first time, antibodies to the hepatitis E virus were found in Bactrians, which have been little studied to date. Antibodies to MERS-CoV were not found in the camel sera.