Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus in Bats, Saudi Arabia

2013722 citationsJournal Articlediamond Open Access

Authors

Ziad A. Memish · Ministry of Health

Nischay Mishra · Ministry of Health

Kevin J. Olival · Ministry of Health

Shamsudeen F. Fagbo · Ministry of Health

Vishal Kapoor · University of Bisha

Jonathan H. Epstein · University of Bisha

Rafat F. Alhakeem ·

Abstract

The source of human infection with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus remains unknown. Molecular investigation indicated that bats in Saudi Arabia are infected with several alphacoronaviruses and betacoronaviruses. Virus from 1 bat showed 100% nucleotide identity to virus from the human index case-patient. Bats might play a role in human infection.

Topics & Keywords

SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research COVID-19 epidemiological studies Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research

UN Sustainable Development Goals

Good health and well-being

Publication Details

Published in: Emerging infectious diseases

Volume 19, Issue 11, pp. 1819-23

DOI: 10.3201/eid1911.131172

Field-Weighted Citation Impact: 43.38