EID Journal: South African Bat Carries Close Relative To MERS-CoV

Coronavirus - Photo Credit WHO

 

 

# 7511

 

Yesterday the CDC’s EID journal published a letter from  researchers from Germany and South Africa who report detecting the closest relative yet to the MERS coronavirus in the feces of a bat sampled in South Africa – more than 3,000 miles from the outbreak in the Middle East.

 

Although bats have been tentatively linked to the MERS virus (see EID Journal: EMC/2012–related Coronaviruses in Bats & Coronavirus `Closely Related’ To HK Bat Strains) a really close match to MERS coronavirus has yet to be isolated from an animal host.

 

Many researchers also suspect that an intermediary host – one that amplifies the virus – may be involved in the chain of transmission leading to human infection as well.

 

Although not an exact match, and only isolated from one bat, this latest discovery points to another avenue of research in the hunt for the origins of this virus.

First, a link to the EID article, then some excerpts from the press release from the University of Bonn.

 

 

Volume 19, Number 10—October 2013

Letter

Close Relative of Human Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus in Bat, South Africa

To the Editor: The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak of 2002–03 and the subsequent implication of bats as reservoir hosts of the causative agent, a coronavirus (CoV), prompted numerous studies of bats and the viruses they harbor. A novel clade 2c betacoronavirus, termed Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)–CoV, was recently identified as the causative agent of a severe respiratory disease that is mainly affecting humans on the Arabian Peninsula (1).

Extending on previous work (2), we described European Pipistrellus bat–derived CoVs that are closely related to MERS-CoV (3). We now report the identification of a South Africa bat derived CoV that has an even closer phylogenetic relationship with MERS-CoV.

(Continue . . .)

 

 

 

University of Bonn

Does the dangerous new Middle East coronavirus have an African origin?

Researchers discover a close relative in South African bats

IMAGE: In this animal the scientists from the University Bonn (Germany) and from South Africa found a virus that ist genetically more closely related to MERS-CoV than any other known virus....

 

The MERS-coronavirus is regarded as a dangerous novel pathogen: Almost 50 people have died from infection with the virus since it was first discovered in 2012. To date all cases are connected with the Arabian peninsula. Scientists from the University Bonn (Germany) and South Africa have now detected a virus in the faeces of a South African bat that is genetically more closely related to MERS-CoV than any other known virus. The scientists therefore believe that African bats may play a role in the evolution of MERS-CoV predecessor viruses. Their results have just been published online in the journal "Emerging Infectious Diseases".

<SNIP>

A collaboration of researchers from the Institute of Virology at the University Bonn, Germany, the University of Stellenbosch and several other South African institutions have recently found evidence that MERS-CoV could possibly originate from bats occurring in southern Africa. The South African scientists, headed by Prof. Wolfgang Preiser, tested faecal material from a total of 62 bats from 13 different species for coronaviruses. In collaboration with their colleagues in Bonn, headed by Dr. Jan Felix Drexler, they investigated the genetic material of the viruses that they found.

 

In a faecal sample from a bat of the species Neoromicia cf. zuluensis they found a virus that is genetically more closely related to MERS-CoV than any other known virus. They believe that MERS-CoV may originally come from bats and may have reached the human population via other animals acting as intermediate hosts.

Search for MERS-CoV progenitor should include Africa

 

(Continue . . . )

 

South African Statement On NDM-1 Cases

 

Inoculated MacConkey agar culture plate cultivated colonial growth of Gram-negative, small rod-shaped and facultatively anaerobic Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria. – CDC PHIL.

 

# 5915

 

Over the past week a story emerged from South Africa regarding (initially 9, now 10) patients in a private hospital who were diagnosed with an NDM-1 bacterial infection.

Crof, at Crofsblog covered these reports here, here, and here.

 

Three of these patients have reportedly died, but local authorities have pointed out that all three had `co-morbidities’ that probably played a major role in their deaths.

 

NDM-1 gained prominence a little over a year ago with the publication of a Lancet article (see NDM-1: A New Acronym To Memorize) that tied India and Pakistan to the emergence and spread of an enzyme that confers resistance in common gram negative bacteria like E.coli and Klebsiella against most antibiotics.

 

Today the South African Department of Health has posted a statement regarding these recent cases. While calling NDM-1 a `national concern’, it provides little in the way of specifics on this outbreak, and instead seeks to reassure that everything is under control.  

 

 

Emergence of NDM-1 in South Africa a national issue

Joint media statement issued by the National Department of Health and Life Healthcare

20 October 2011

 

The emergence of the Klebsiella pneumoniae producing NDM-1 enzyme in South Africa is a matter of national concern. It should be noted that the institution-based outbreak is contained through the effective measures implemented thus far. The possibility of further spread is limited.

 

NDM-1 was identified at Life The Glynnwood Hospital in Benoni, where 10 patients treated were confirmed to have NDM-1. An outpatient at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital in Johannesburg was earlier also confirmed with this multidrug resistant strain of bacteria. There are presently still three patients in Glynnwood Hospital with the NDM-1 bacterium who are in a stable condition.

 

Representatives of the national, provincial and district departments of health met with Life The Glynnwood management and with representatives of Life Healthcare (of which the hospital forms part) as well as with other key roleplayers on Wednesday (19 October) to assess the situation and determine the way forward.

 

Life The Glynnwood was commended for identifying the NDM-1 strain promptly and implementing effective interventions to respond to the outbreak and prevent its spread. These measures include effective treatment and isolation of affected patients, strengthening infection control measures, screening of around 400 patients and staff as well as commissioning an independent clinical audit.

 

A co-ordinating outbreak response team was formed that will meet regularly to monitoring and redirect response to the outbreak when needed. A monitoring system within public and private sector will also be set up.

 

A formal report is being compiled and will be submitted to the Minister of Health. The parties will furthermore work together in formalising a NDM-1 treatment protocol for clinicians. They will also document lessons learned from the experience at Life The Glynnwood to share with other roleplayers. These actions will be of immense value to other hospitals which may be faced with a similar situation in future.

 

Prof Adriano Duse, an appointee of the Department of Health and the Head of Clinical Microbiology and Infection Control at Wits University as well as the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) will continue to be the spokesperson on the NDM-1 outbreak.