Novel viruses in dromedaries from the Middle East

Abstract

Camels play an important role in the Middle East as the source of food and transportation to the locals and the advancement of tourism industries too, had bring forward the use of camels in entertainments and showcase to tourists. Since the emergence of Middle East Respiratory Symptoms Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in the Middle East, a lot of attention was brought forward in dromedaries’ research to discover the potential of camels as hosts of viruses and their zoonosis potential. In addition to the current pandemic in SARS-CoV-2, more exploration is needed to unveil the mystery of zoonotic diseases. This study focuses on the viral metagenomics of camels from aborted fetus, sick camel calves and a pool of healthy camel calves from the Middle East. All the samples were deep sequenced and analyzed, reviewing some interesting facts especially in the healthy pooled camel calves. In this study, at least three novel viruses from the camel samples and four previously discovered camel viruses in adult camels’ studies were discovered through next generation sequencing. Genomic analysis revealed that unknown CPE observed from the aborted camel fetus and sick camel calves belonging to novel discovery of Dromedary camel Newcastle disease virus (DcNDV) and Dromedary camel parainfluenza virus 3 (DcPIV3) from the family Paramyxoviridae. Interesting discovery for the pooled healthy camel calves’ fecal samples reveals abundant of viruses through metagenomics approach. Dromedary camel coronavirus HKU23, family Coronaviridae (DcCoV-HKU23), Dromedary camel astrovirus, family Astroviridae (DcAst) and Dromedary camel bocaparvovirus 1, family Parvoviridae (DcBoV1) were previously discovered in adults’ camels from the United Arab Emirates was successfully identified in these healthy camel calves’ samples. Moreover, a new novel Dromedary camel sapovirus, family Caliciviridae (DcSV) which was never been reported in dromedaries was successfully identified in the samples too. In line with previous results on the viromes of adult camels, analysis of the viromes of healthy camel calf demonstrated that they also could serve as a host for various viruses. Comparatively, the fecal viromes of camel calves possessed even a higher diversity of viruses that those of adult camels. More studies indeed are needed in future to reveal the abilities of camel calves in hosting viruses and focus on the individual pathogenicity of a virus in order to understand the virus and host interaction with environmental and climate changes, explore the avenue of understanding the newly or even previously emerged camel viruses in order to enhance the preparedness for future outbreak.

An abstract of exactly 401 words