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.
Keywords:
MERS CoV; Middle East respiratory syndrome; Saudi Arabia; bats; coronavirus; viruses.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Chiroptera / virology*
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Coronavirus / classification
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Coronavirus / genetics*
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Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
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Coronavirus Infections / transmission*
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Genes, Viral
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Geography
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Humans
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Phylogeny
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Respiratory Tract Infections / epidemiology*
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Respiratory Tract Infections / transmission*
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Saudi Arabia / epidemiology
Associated data
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GENBANK/KF498635
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GENBANK/KF498636
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GENBANK/KF498637
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GENBANK/KF498638
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GENBANK/KF498639
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GENBANK/KF498640
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GENBANK/KF498641