Madhloom Ibrahim Hasan, Othman Rasha Munther, Al-Bayati Hussein Ali Mohammed
Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq.
Department of Microbiology, College of Science, University of Wasit, Kut, Iraq.
Open Vet J. 2025 Feb;15(2):765-773. doi: 10.5455/OVJ.2025.v15.i2.25. Epub 2025 Feb 28.
Coronaviruses (CoVs) are a diverse group of RNA viruses that cause respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases in humans and animals. Over the past two decades, outbreaks of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and bovine coronavirus (BCoV) have affected animal populations, especially in regions with close animal-human interactions, such as the Arabian Peninsula and Iraq. Given the potential for zoonotic transmission, understanding the prevalence and spread of CoVs among livestock is essential for managing potential risks to animal and human health.
This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of MERS-CoV in camels and BCoV in bovines within the Wasit Governorate of Iraq to assess the infection rates and potential interspecies transmission risks.
One hundred and fifty nasal swab samples (75 from camels and 75 from bovines) were collected between November 2022 and April 2023. The samples were analyzed for the presence of MERS-CoV and BCoV using real- time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) targeting the nucleocapsid (N) gene for each virus. Standard procedures for RNA extraction were followed, and qRT-PCR assays were conducted using specific primers to ensure high sensitivity and specificity.
MERS-CoV was present in (42%) of the camel samples, whereas BCoV was detected in (34%) of the bovine samples. Statistical analysis indicated a significant difference ( < 0.05) in infection rates between camels and bovines, with a higher prevalence observed in camels. The clinical signs observed in infected camels included fever, nasal discharge, and appetite loss, whereas infected bovines exhibited symptoms such as diarrhea and respiratory distress.
The high prevalence of MERS-CoV and BCoV in camels and bovines in the Wasit region indicates a substantial risk for the continued spread of these viruses within animal populations. These findings underscore the importance of surveillance and biosecurity measures to control the spread of coronavirus among livestock, potentially reducing zoonotic transmission risks. Further research is required to understand the transmission dynamics of CoVs in mixed livestock farming systems.
冠状病毒（CoVs）是一类多样的RNA病毒，可导致人类和动物的呼吸道及胃肠道疾病。在过去二十年中，中东呼吸综合征冠状病毒（MERS-CoV）和牛冠状病毒（BCoV）的爆发影响了动物群体，特别是在动物与人密切接触的地区，如阿拉伯半岛和伊拉克。鉴于存在人畜共患病传播的可能性，了解冠状病毒在牲畜中的流行情况和传播对于管理对动物和人类健康的潜在风险至关重要。
本研究旨在调查伊拉克瓦西特省骆驼中MERS-CoV和牛中BCoV的流行情况，以评估感染率和潜在的种间传播风险。
在2022年11月至2023年4月期间收集了150份鼻拭子样本（75份来自骆驼，75份来自牛）。使用针对每种病毒核衣壳（N）基因的实时定量逆转录PCR（qRT-PCR）分析样本中MERS-CoV和BCoV的存在情况。遵循RNA提取的标准程序，并使用特异性引物进行qRT-PCR检测，以确保高灵敏度和特异性。
42%的骆驼样本中存在MERS-CoV，而34%的牛样本中检测到BCoV。统计分析表明骆驼和牛的感染率存在显著差异（<0.05），骆驼中的流行率更高。感染骆驼观察到的临床症状包括发热、流鼻涕和食欲减退，而感染牛表现出腹泻和呼吸窘迫等症状。
瓦西特地区骆驼和牛中MERS-CoV和BCoV的高流行率表明这些病毒在动物群体中持续传播的重大风险。这些发现强调了监测和生物安全措施对于控制冠状病毒在牲畜中传播的重要性，可能降低人畜共患病传播风险。需要进一步研究以了解冠状病毒在混合畜牧养殖系统中的传播动态。
