Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus–Specific T-Cell Responses in Dromedary Camel Abattoir Workers in Nigeria Suggests Frequent Zoonotic Spillover
Abstract
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is assessed to have high pandemic risk, and dromedary camels are the source of zoonotic spillover. More than 75% of MERS-CoV-infected dromedary camels are found in Africa, but no zoonotic disease has been reported from Africa where there is little awareness of MERS-CoV as a potential cause of respiratory disease. Antibody responses are a poor indicator of mild infection. We found that 47 of 60 (78%) dromedary camel abattoir workers in Kano, Nigeria, had MERS-CoV-specific T-cell responses while none of 18 controls did, suggesting that zoonotic infection is common in camel-exposed individuals in Africa.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Animal Diversity and Health Studies
Brucella: diagnosis
epidemiology
treatment
SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
Publication details
- Journal / source
- The Journal of Infectious Diseases
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Volume
- 233
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 1058–1062
- Publication date
- 28 February 2026
- Language
- EN