https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:2408 MERS-CoV Found in Hyalomma dromedarii Ticks Attached to Dromedary Camels at a Livestock Market, United Arab Emirates, 2019 Weidinger, Pia Pia Weidinger 0000-0003-4028-4151 University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Nowotny, Norbert Norbert Nowotny 0000-0002-3548-571X University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna / Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences Camp, Jeremy V. Jeremy V. Camp 0000-0002-9040-5786 University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Alsheikh-Ali, Alawi Alawi Alsheikh-Ali 0000-0002-1213-4546 Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences Abou Tayoun, Ahmad Ahmad Abou Tayoun 0000-0002-9134-1673 Al Jalila Children's Specialty Hospital / Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences Karuvantevida, Noushad Noushad Karuvantevida Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences Wolf, Nadine Nadine Wolf University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Mazrooei, Hessa Hessa Mazrooei Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences Sher Shah, Moayyed Moayyed Sher Shah Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve Howarth, Brigitte Brigitte Howarth 0000-0002-9128-4293 Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi Khafaga, Tamer Tamer Khafaga 0000-0002-3045-0323 Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve Osman, Babiker Mohammed Babiker Mohammed Osman Al Ain City Municipality Kannan, Dafalla O. Dafalla O. Kannan 0000-0001-5819-0028 Al Ain City Municipality Loney, Tom Tom Loney 0000-0003-1687-6587 Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences Kolodziejek, Jolanta Jolanta Kolodziejek 0000-0001-5736-3644 University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna MDPI text eng The main mode of transmission of Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (MERS-CoV) between dromedaries is likely via the respiratory route. However, there must be other modes to explain how the infection is brought to MERS-CoV-negative closed herds, such as transmission by ticks. Here, we present a study performed at three different locations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) involving 215 dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) and the ticks attached to them. We tested the camels and ticks via RT-(q)PCR for the presence of MERS-CoV nucleic acids, as well as flaviviruses that may be present in the region (e.g., Alkhumra hemorrhagic fever virus). Camel sera were additionally analyzed for evidence of previous exposure to MERS-CoV. In total, 8 out of 242 tick pools were positive for MERS-CoV RNA (3.3%; Ct 34.6-38.3), 7 of which contained Hyalomma dromedarii ticks, and one contained a Hyalomma sp. tick (species not identified). All of the virus-positive ticks' host camels were also positive for MERS-CoV RNA in their nasal swab samples. Short sequences established in the N gene region from two positive tick pools were identical to viral sequences from their hosts' nasal swabs. In total, 59.3% of dromedaries at the livestock market had MERS-CoV RNA in their nasal swabs (Ct 17.7-39.5). While dromedaries at all locations were negative for MERS-CoV RNA in their serum samples, antibodies were detected in 95.2% and 98.7% of them (tested by ELISA and indirect immunofluorescence test, respectively). Given the probably transient and/or low level of MERS-CoV viremia in dromedaries and the rather high Ct values observed in the ticks, it seems unlikely that Hyalomma dromedarii is a competent vector for MERS-CoV; however, its role in mechanical or fomite transmission between camels should be investigated. Animals; Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirusgenetics; Camelus; Livestock; Coronavirus Infectionsepidemiologyveterinary; Ticks; United Arab Emiratesepidemiology; Ixodidae; RNA http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/api/object/o:2408/download 10.3390/v15061288 https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:605 application/pdf Viruses 15(6) (2023) Viruses 15 6 404.72 kB 2023