Abstract
Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is an emerging infectious disease, caused by Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and is considered to be a zoonosis. However, the natural reservoirs of MERS-CoV remain obscure, with bats and camels as the most suspected sources. In this article, we review the evidence supporting a bat/camel origin of human MERS-CoV infection and current knowledge on the modes of camel-to-human transmission of MERS-CoV.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Review
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Camelus*
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Chiroptera*
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Communicable Diseases, Emerging / epidemiology*
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Communicable Diseases, Emerging / transmission
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Communicable Diseases, Emerging / virology
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Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
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Coronavirus Infections / transmission
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Coronavirus Infections / virology
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Disease Reservoirs*
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Disease Transmission, Infectious
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Humans
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Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus / isolation & purification*
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Zoonoses / epidemiology*
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Zoonoses / transmission
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Zoonoses / virology