Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus: Difference between revisions

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===Morbidity and Mortality===
===Morbidity and Mortality===


  Approximately 36% of reported patients with MERS-CoV have died.
  Approximately 36% of reported patients with MERS-CoV have died.

Revision as of 11:56, 25 July 2015

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University of Oklahoma Study Abroad Microbiology in Arezzo, Italy[1]
MERS-CoV. From dohanews: [2]

Etiology/Bacteriology

Taxonomy

Viruses; ssRNA viruses; ssRNA positive-strand viruses, no DNA stage; Nidovirales; Coronaviridae; Coronavirinae; Betacoronavirus; unclassified Betacoronavirus

NCBI: [3] Genome: [4]

Description

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infects the respiratory system, causing the severe acute illness Middle East respiratory syndrome also known as MERS. It was first identified in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia in 2012 and soon afterward seen in other Middle Eastern countries including Jordan, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. In other cases, it has been observed in countries including France, Germany, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, China, Malaysia, South Korea, and the United States. All confirmed cases are linked to the Arabian Peninsula. Coronaviruses are characterized by their crown-like, coronal glycoprotein spikes on their surface. They have enveloped virions that measure approximately 120nm in diameter with a nucleocapsid made up of viral nucleic acids and are helical in shape. The genome consists of a single strand of RNA. [1]

Pathogenesis

Transmission

MERS-CoV is a zoonotic virus that is transmitted from animals to humans. Though not fully known, the virus is believed to have originated in bats that were then transmitted to camels. Transmission to humans has been linked to camels as the major animal source. Strains of MERS-CoV found in humans have been matched with strains found from camels from the Middle East. The virus appears to not easily pass from human to human but is seen more frequently when there is close contact such as in a hospital setting.

The virus mainly circulates throughout the Arabian Peninsula where >85% of the cases have been reported. However, there have been several reports outside of the Middle East, where travelers have contracted the infection during their visit to the Middle East and then brought back to their home country.

Currently, the outbreak in Republic of Korea in 2015 has been the largest outbreak outside of the Middle East. [3]

Infectious Dose, Incubation, Colonization

Epidemiology

Virulence Factors

Clinical features

Symptoms

Persons who have contracted MERS-CoV can be asymptomatic or have mild respiratory symptoms. Many times, patients show severe acute respiratory symptoms that can lead to death. Typically, these patients show symptoms of fever, cough, shortness of breath as well as diarrhea.

Severe illness can lead to respiratory failure that requires mechanical ventilation. The virus seems to cause more severe disease and higher risk of death with those who are older or have an already weakened immune system.

Morbidity and Mortality

Approximately 36% of reported patients with MERS-CoV have died.

Diagnosis

Prevention and Treatment

Currently, there are no vaccines for prevention or specific antiviral treatments for cures. However, individuals with MERS-CoV infection can seek medical attention to relieve symptoms and receive support for boosted organ functions. The CDC recommends avoiding personal contact and frequent hand washing in order to prevent respiratory illnesses.[2]

Host Immune Response

References

1 "MERS." Encyclopaedia Britannica. Britannica Academic. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2015. Web. 22 Jul. 2015. <http://academic.eb.com/EBchecked/topic/1949834/MERS>

2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) <http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/mers/index.html>

3 "Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)." WHO. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 July 2015. <http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/mers-cov/en/>

Created by Hae Cha, students of Tyrrell Conway at the University of Oklahoma.