Coronavirus infections in horses in Saudi Arabia and Oman.
Abstract: Equine coronaviruses (ECoV) are the only coronavirus known to infect horses. So far, data on ECoV infection in horses remain limited to the USA, France and Japan and its geographic distribution is not well understood. We carried out RT-PCR on 306 nasal and 315 rectal swabs and tested 243 sera for antibodies to detect coronavirus infections in apparently healthy horses in Saudi Arabia and Oman. We document evidence of infection with ECoV and HKU23 coronavirus by RT-PCR. There was no conclusive evidence of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection in horses. Serological data suggest that lineage A betacoronavirus infections are commonly infecting horses in Saudi Arabia and Oman but antibody cross-reactivities between these viruses do not permit us to use serological data alone to identify which coronaviruses are causing these infections.
© 2017 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.
Publication Date: 2017-03-13 PubMed ID: 28296228PubMed Central: PMC7169745DOI: 10.1111/tbed.12630Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research investigates the prevalence of Equine coronaviruses (ECoV) in horses in Saudi Arabia and Oman. Using various laboratory methods, they found evidence of ECoV and another type of coronavirus, but not the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus.
Research Context
- The study focuses on coronaviruses that affect horses, primarily Equine coronaviruses (ECoV). Prior to this study, data regarding ECoV infections were largely limited to the USA, France, and Japan, making its geographic distribution unclear.
- An added layer of context is the exploration of the presence of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus in horses. This particular strain of coronavirus is known to affect humans but its presence in equine species isn’t well established.
Research Methodology
- Conducted RT-PCR tests (Real Time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction tests) on 306 nasal and 315 rectal swabs from horses. The RT-PCR test is a highly accurate laboratory method used to detect the presence of specific genetic material from an infectious agent, in this case, coronaviruses.
- Tested 243 sera (the part of blood that is like water and that contains antibodies) for antibodies to detect previous coronavirus infections in the horses.
Research Findings
- Documented evidence of infections with ECoV and another strain of coronavirus known as HKU23, determined through the RT-PCR tests.
- Found no conclusive evidence of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection in horses through the testing process.
- Serological data suggested that infections with lineage A betacoronavirus are common in horses in Saudi Arabia and Oman. Lineage A betacoronaviruses are a taxonomic group of coronaviruses, some of which are known to cause disease in humans.
Research Implications
- The presence of antibody cross-reactivities between these viruses, however, makes it impossible to definitively identify which coronaviruses are causing the infections based solely on serological data.
- Despite the study’s significant findings, more research using other scientific methods is suggested to determine the exact strains of coronaviruses infecting horses in these regions.
Cite This Article
APA
Hemida MG, Chu DKW, Perera RAPM, Ko RLW, So RTY, Ng BCY, Chan SMS, Chu S, Alnaeem AA, Alhammadi MA, Webby RJ, Poon LLM, Balasuriya UBR, Peiris M.
(2017).
Coronavirus infections in horses in Saudi Arabia and Oman.
Transbound Emerg Dis, 64(6), 2093-2103.
https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.12630 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Hasa, Saudi Arabia.
- Department of Virology Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kaferelsheik University, Kaferelsheik, Egypt.
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- Department of Clinical Studies, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Hasa, Saudi Arabia.
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Hasa, Saudi Arabia.
- Division of Virology, Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Betacoronavirus / genetics
- Betacoronavirus / immunology
- Betacoronavirus / isolation & purification
- Chlorocebus aethiops
- Coronavirus / genetics
- Coronavirus / immunology
- Coronavirus / isolation & purification
- Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology
- Coronavirus Infections / veterinary
- Coronavirus Infections / virology
- Cross Reactions
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / virology
- Horses
- Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus / genetics
- Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus / immunology
- Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus / isolation & purification
- Oman / epidemiology
- Saudi Arabia / epidemiology
- Vero Cells
Grant Funding
- HHSN272201500006C / NIAID NIH HHS
Conflict of Interest Statement
We declare that we have no conflict of interests.
References
This article includes 25 references
- Adney DR, Brown VR, Porter SM, Bielefeldt-Ohmann H, Hartwig AE, Bowen RA. Inoculation of Goats, Sheep, and Horses with MERS-CoV Does Not Result in Productive Viral Shedding.. Viruses 2016 Aug 19;8(8).
- Alexandersen S, Kobinger GP, Soule G, Wernery U. Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus antibody reactors among camels in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in 2005.. Transbound Emerg Dis 2014 Apr;61(2):105-8.
- Balasuriya UBR. Coronaviridae. Veterinary microbiology 3rd edn (pp. 456–473).
- Barlan A, Zhao J, Sarkar MK, Li K, McCray PB Jr, Perlman S, Gallagher T. Receptor variation and susceptibility to Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection.. J Virol 2014 May;88(9):4953-61.
- Chu DK, Oladipo JO, Perera RA, Kuranga SA, Chan SM, Poon LL, Peiris M. Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in dromedary camels in Nigeria, 2015.. Euro Surveill 2015;20(49).
- Chu DK, Poon LL, Gomaa MM, Shehata MM, Perera RA, Abu Zeid D, El Rifay AS, Siu LY, Guan Y, Webby RJ, Ali MA, Peiris M, Kayali G. MERS coronaviruses in dromedary camels, Egypt.. Emerg Infect Dis 2014 Jun;20(6):1049-53.
- Corman VM, Müller MA, Costabel U, Timm J, Binger T, Meyer B, Kreher P, Lattwein E, Eschbach-Bludau M, Nitsche A, Bleicker T, Landt O, Schweiger B, Drexler JF, Osterhaus AD, Haagmans BL, Dittmer U, Bonin F, Wolff T, Drosten C. Assays for laboratory confirmation of novel human coronavirus (hCoV-EMC) infections.. Euro Surveill 2012 Dec 6;17(49).
- Gutiérrez C, Tejedor-Junco MT, González M, Lattwein E, Renneker S. Presence of antibodies but no evidence for circulation of MERS-CoV in dromedaries on the Canary Islands, 2015.. Euro Surveill 2015;20(37).
- Guy JS, Breslin JJ, Breuhaus B, Vivrette S, Smith LG. Characterization of a coronavirus isolated from a diarrheic foal.. J Clin Microbiol 2000 Dec;38(12):4523-6.
- Hemida MG, Perera RA, Al Jassim RA, Kayali G, Siu LY, Wang P, Chu KW, Perlman S, Ali MA, Alnaeem A, Guan Y, Poon LL, Saif L, Peiris M. Seroepidemiology of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus in Saudi Arabia (1993) and Australia (2014) and characterisation of assay specificity.. Euro Surveill 2014 Jun 12;19(23).
- Hemida MG, Perera RA, Wang P, Alhammadi MA, Siu LY, Li M, Poon LL, Saif L, Alnaeem A, Peiris M. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus seroprevalence in domestic livestock in Saudi Arabia, 2010 to 2013.. Euro Surveill 2013 Dec 12;18(50):20659.
- Kooijman LJ, Mapes SM, Pusterla N. Development of an equine coronavirus-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to determine serologic responses in naturally infected horses.. J Vet Diagn Invest 2016 Jul;28(4):414-8.
- Memish ZA, Cotten M, Meyer B, Watson SJ, Alsahafi AJ, Al Rabeeah AA, Corman VM, Sieberg A, Makhdoom HQ, Assiri A, Al Masri M, Aldabbagh S, Bosch BJ, Beer M, Müller MA, Kellam P, Drosten C. Human infection with MERS coronavirus after exposure to infected camels, Saudi Arabia, 2013.. Emerg Infect Dis 2014 Jun;20(6):1012-5.
- Meyer B, García-Bocanegra I, Wernery U, Wernery R, Sieberg A, Müller MA, Drexler JF, Drosten C, Eckerle I. Serologic assessment of possibility for MERS-CoV infection in equids.. Emerg Infect Dis 2015 Jan;21(1):181-2.
- Miguel E, Perera RA, Baubekova A, Chevalier V, Faye B, Akhmetsadykov N, Ng CY, Roger F, Peiris M. Absence of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus in Camelids, Kazakhstan, 2015.. Emerg Infect Dis 2016 Mar;22(3):555-7.
- Miszczak F, Tesson V, Kin N, Dina J, Balasuriya UB, Pronost S, Vabret A. First detection of equine coronavirus (ECoV) in Europe.. Vet Microbiol 2014 Jun 25;171(1-2):206-9.
- Oue Y, Morita Y, Kondo T, Nemoto M. Epidemic of equine coronavirus at Obihiro Racecourse, Hokkaido, Japan in 2012.. J Vet Med Sci 2013;75(9):1261-5.
- Park WB, Perera RA, Choe PG, Lau EH, Choi SJ, Chun JY, Oh HS, Song KH, Bang JH, Kim ES, Kim HB, Park SW, Kim NJ, Man Poon LL, Peiris M, Oh MD. Kinetics of Serologic Responses to MERS Coronavirus Infection in Humans, South Korea.. Emerg Infect Dis 2015 Dec;21(12):2186-9.
- Perera RA, Wang P, Gomaa MR, El-Shesheny R, Kandeil A, Bagato O, Siu LY, Shehata MM, Kayed AS, Moatasim Y, Li M, Poon LL, Guan Y, Webby RJ, Ali MA, Peiris JS, Kayali G. Seroepidemiology for MERS coronavirus using microneutralisation and pseudoparticle virus neutralisation assays reveal a high prevalence of antibody in dromedary camels in Egypt, June 2013.. Euro Surveill 2013 Sep 5;18(36):pii=20574.
- Pusterla N, Holzenkaempfer N, Mapes S, Kass P. Prevalence of equine coronavirus in nasal secretions from horses with fever and upper respiratory tract infection.. Vet Rec 2015 Sep 19;177(11):289.
- Reusken CB, Messadi L, Feyisa A, Ularamu H, Godeke GJ, Danmarwa A, Dawo F, Jemli M, Melaku S, Shamaki D, Woma Y, Wungak Y, Gebremedhin EZ, Zutt I, Bosch BJ, Haagmans BL, Koopmans MP. Geographic distribution of MERS coronavirus among dromedary camels, Africa.. Emerg Infect Dis 2014 Aug;20(8):1370-4.
- nWHOn(2016). Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS‐CoV). Retrieved from http://www.who.int/emergencies/mers-cov/en/ (accessed May 27, 2016).
- Woo PC, Lau SK, Fan RY, Lau CC, Wong EY, Joseph S, Tsang AK, Wernery R, Yip CC, Tsang CC, Wernery U, Yuen KY. Isolation and Characterization of Dromedary Camel Coronavirus UAE-HKU23 from Dromedaries of the Middle East: Minimal Serological Cross-Reactivity between MERS Coronavirus and Dromedary Camel Coronavirus UAE-HKU23.. Int J Mol Sci 2016 May 7;17(5).
- Woo PC, Lau SK, Wernery U, Wong EY, Tsang AK, Johnson B, Yip CC, Lau CC, Sivakumar S, Cai JP, Fan RY, Chan KH, Mareena R, Yuen KY. Novel betacoronavirus in dromedaries of the Middle East, 2013.. Emerg Infect Dis 2014 Apr;20(4):560-72.
- Zhang J, Guy JS, Snijder EJ, Denniston DA, Timoney PJ, Balasuriya UB. Genomic characterization of equine coronavirus.. Virology 2007 Dec 5;369(1):92-104.
Citations
This article has been cited 26 times.- Ibrahim MA, Dénes A. Mathematical Modeling of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission between Minks and Humans Considering New Variants and Mink Culling.. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023 Aug 3;8(8).
- Bannai H, Kambayashi Y, Ohta M, Nemoto M, Tsujimura K. Prevalence of serum and salivary virus-neutralizing antibodies against equine coronavirus in four riding stables in Japan.. J Equine Sci 2023 Mar;34(1):13-18.
- Qi PF, Gao XY, Ji JK, Zhang Y, Yang SH, Cheng KH, Cui N, Zhu ML, Hu T, Dong X, Yan B, Wang CF, Yang HJ, Shi WF, Zhang W. Identification of a recombinant equine coronavirus in donkey, China.. Emerg Microbes Infect 2022 Dec;11(1):1010-1013.
- Shehata AA, Attia YA, Rahman MT, Basiouni S, El-Seedi HR, Azhar EI, Khafaga AF, Hafez HM. Diversity of Coronaviruses with Particular Attention to the Interspecies Transmission of SARS-CoV-2.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Feb 4;12(3).
- Pomorska-Mól M, Ruszkowski JJ, Gogulski M, Domanska-Blicharz K. First detection of Hedgehog coronavirus 1 in Poland.. Sci Rep 2022 Feb 11;12(1):2386.
- Ruiz-Aravena M, McKee C, Gamble A, Lunn T, Morris A, Snedden CE, Yinda CK, Port JR, Buchholz DW, Yeo YY, Faust C, Jax E, Dee L, Jones DN, Kessler MK, Falvo C, Crowley D, Bharti N, Brook CE, Aguilar HC, Peel AJ, Restif O, Schountz T, Parrish CR, Gurley ES, Lloyd-Smith JO, Hudson PJ, Munster VJ, Plowright RK. Ecology, evolution and spillover of coronaviruses from bats.. Nat Rev Microbiol 2022 May;20(5):299-314.
- Pomorska-Mól M, Turlewicz-Podbielska H, Gogulski M, Ruszkowski JJ, Kubiak M, Kuriga A, Barket P, Postrzech M. A cross-sectional retrospective study of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in domestic cats, dogs and rabbits in Poland.. BMC Vet Res 2021 Oct 7;17(1):322.
- Pomorska-Mól M, Włodarek J, Gogulski M, Rybska M. Review: SARS-CoV-2 infection in farmed minks - an overview of current knowledge on occurrence, disease and epidemiology.. Animal 2021 Jul;15(7):100272.
- Jelinek HF, Mousa M, Alefishat E, Osman W, Spence I, Bu D, Feng SF, Byrd J, Magni PA, Sahibzada S, Tay GK, Alsafar HS. Evolution, Ecology, and Zoonotic Transmission of Betacoronaviruses: A Review.. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:644414.
- Schvartz G, Tirosh-Levy S, Barnum S, David D, Sol A, Pusterla N, Steinman A. Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for Exposure to Equine Coronavirus in Apparently Healthy Horses in Israel.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Mar 21;11(3).
- Colina SE, Serena MS, Echeverría MG, Metz GE. Clinical and molecular aspects of veterinary coronaviruses.. Virus Res 2021 May;297:198382.
- Khamassi Khbou M, Daaloul Jedidi M, Bouaicha Zaafouri F, Benzarti M. Coronaviruses in farm animals: Epidemiology and public health implications.. Vet Med Sci 2021 Mar;7(2):322-347.
- Decaro N, Lorusso A. Novel human coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2): A lesson from animal coronaviruses.. Vet Microbiol 2020 May;244:108693.
- Goodrich EL, Mittel LD, Glaser A, Ness SL, Radcliffe RM, Divers TJ. Novel findings from a beta coronavirus outbreak on an American Miniature Horse breeding farm in upstate New York.. Equine Vet Educ 2020 Mar;32(3):150-154.
- Al-Ahmadi K, Alahmadi M, Al-Zahrani A. Spatial association between primary Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection and exposure to dromedary camels in Saudi Arabia.. Zoonoses Public Health 2020 Jun;67(4):382-390.
- Zhao S, Smits C, Schuurman N, Barnum S, Pusterla N, Kuppeveld FV, Bosch BJ, Maanen KV, Egberink H. Development and Validation of a S1 Protein-Based ELISA for the Specific Detection of Antibodies against Equine Coronavirus.. Viruses 2019 Nov 30;11(12).
- Zhang W, Zheng XS, Agwanda B, Ommeh S, Zhao K, Lichoti J, Wang N, Chen J, Li B, Yang XL, Mani S, Ngeiywa KJ, Zhu Y, Hu B, Onyuok SO, Yan B, Anderson DE, Wang LF, Zhou P, Shi ZL. Serological evidence of MERS-CoV and HKU8-related CoV co-infection in Kenyan camels.. Emerg Microbes Infect 2019;8(1):1528-1534.
- Nemoto M, Schofield W, Cullinane A. The First Detection of Equine Coronavirus in Adult Horses and Foals in Ireland.. Viruses 2019 Oct 14;11(10).
- Gardner EG, Kiambi S, Sitawa R, Kelton D, Kimutai J, Poljak Z, Tadesse Z, Von Dobschuetz S, Wiersma L, Greer AL. Force of infection of Middle East respiratory syndrome in dromedary camels in Kenya.. Epidemiol Infect 2019 Sep 24;147:e275.
- Widagdo W, Sooksawasdi Na Ayudhya S, Hundie GB, Haagmans BL. Host Determinants of MERS-CoV Transmission and Pathogenesis.. Viruses 2019 Mar 19;11(3).
- Kandeil A, Gomaa M, Shehata M, El-Taweel A, Kayed AE, Abiadh A, Jrijer J, Moatasim Y, Kutkat O, Bagato O, Mahmoud S, Mostafa A, El-Shesheny R, Perera RA, Ko RL, Hassan N, Elsokary B, Allal L, Saad A, Sobhy H, McKenzie PP, Webby RJ, Peiris M, Ali MA, Kayali G. Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection in non-camelid domestic mammals.. Emerg Microbes Infect 2019;8(1):103-108.
- Sanz MG, Kwon S, Pusterla N, Gold JR, Bain F, Evermann J. Evaluation of equine coronavirus fecal shedding among hospitalized horses.. J Vet Intern Med 2019 Mar;33(2):918-922.
- Kudagammana HDWS, Thevanesam V, Chu DKW, Eriyagama NB, Peiris JSM, Noordeen F. Coronaviruses in guano from Pteropus medius bats in Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.. Transbound Emerg Dis 2018 Aug;65(4):1122-1124.
- Pusterla N, Vin R, Leutenegger CM, Mittel LD, Divers TJ. Enteric coronavirus infection in adult horses.. Vet J 2018 Jan;231:13-18.
- Nemoto M, Kanno T, Bannai H, Tsujimura K, Yamanaka T, Kokado H. Antibody response to equine coronavirus in horses inoculated with a bovine coronavirus vaccine.. J Vet Med Sci 2017 Nov 17;79(11):1889-1891.
- Hemida MG, Alnaeem A, Chu DK, Perera RA, Chan SM, Almathen F, Yau E, Ng BC, Webby RJ, Poon LL, Peiris M. Longitudinal study of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus infection in dromedary camel herds in Saudi Arabia, 2014-2015.. Emerg Microbes Infect 2017 Jun 21;6(6):e56.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists