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#Epidemiology and #genomic features of #MERS #coronavirus in #Africa: a systematic and meta-analysis review

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By G.M.

 


Highlights

• 74% pooled MERS-CoV seroprevalence in African dromedaries

• Highest MERS-CoV RNA incidence (15.3%) observed in juvenile dromedaries

• 2.4% pooled MERS-CoV seroprevalence in camel-exposed humans

• African MERS-CoV clade C exhibits unique polymorphisms

• Clade-specific features might explain low MERS-CoV infection rates in Africa


Abstract

Objective

We explored factors contributing to the low human MERS-CoV prevalence in Africa by assessing MERS-CoV epidemiological and genomic features.

Methods

We followed the PRISMA guidelines. We searched for articles on epidemiological and virological MERS-CoV characteristics in humans and camels in Africa until August 2025. We used a generalised linear mixed-effects model to calculate pooled proportions. We identified relevant polymorphisms in African MERS-CoV lineages compared with the prototypic EMC/2012 and contemporary Arabian MERS-CoV (clade B5).

Results

We included 53 articles, with 31 used in the meta-analysis. Kenya, Egypt, and Ethiopia contributed to 66.03% of all included studies. Pooled MERS-CoV RNA positivity in African dromedaries was 6.09%, with juveniles (15.29%) having a higher incidence than adults (4.51%). The pooled MERS-CoV seroprevalence was 73.67%, with adults (80.96%) higher than juveniles (36.02%). In human-focused studies, only nine PCR-confirmed MERS cases were reported, six travel-associated and three autochthonous cases, despite a pooled seroprevalence of 2.4%. Genomic analyses identified MERS-CoV clade C-specific polymorphisms in the Spike and accessory genes with putative phenotypic impact.

Conclusion

We found the highest MERS-CoV RNA positivity in young dromedaries. Elevated MERS-CoV seroprevalence in mainly asymptomatic camel-exposed humans suggests an underestimation of MERS-CoV infections in Africa. The ongoing MERS-CoV evolution emphasises the need for active genomic surveillance to monitor signatures of human adaptation.

Source: 


Link: https://www.ijidonline.com/article/S1201-9712(26)00091-3/fulltext

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