Sessions

The rapid evolution of coronaviruses (CoVs), their widespread distribution, and their role in respiratory infections justify their continuous monitoring. In recent decades, coronaviruses were involved in epidemics affecting both animals and humans, as well as zoonotic infections, such as the severe acute respiratory syndrome CoV (SARS-CoV), SARS-CoV-2, and middle east respiratory CoV (MERS-CoV).

In the case of alpacas (Vicugna pacos), a farm animal that is becoming increasingly popular in Hungary, little data is available on the viruses circulating in the population. In the family Camelidae, both MERS-CoV and bovine CoV (BoCoV) have been described. Since the 2012 outbreak in the Middle East, the dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) has been considered a reservoir species for MERS-CoV and a direct cause of human infections. BoCoV typically infects large ruminants and is one of the key pathogens responsible for winter dysentery in cattle. The virus shows great similarity at the genomic level and is thought to have a common ancestor, therefore taxonomically it forms a quasispecies with the human OC43 virus, equine CoV, canine respiratory CoV, and porcine hemagglutinating encephalomyelitis CoV.

In this study, 118 nasal and rectal swab samples, collected from alpacas in Hungary, were screened for CoVs using a newly designed CoV-specific nested PCR-based, broad-spectrum detection system that is capable of detecting virtually all CoVs. In nine of the samples, presence of CoV sequences was confirmed by Sanger sequencing in addition to PCR, eight of which were grouped with OC43/BoCoV and one with SARS-CoV-2 reference sequences during analyses.

The PCRs targeted a conserved CoV genomic region, the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. OC43 and BoCoV show remarkable genetic identities within this gene, thus, distinction of the viruses could not be executed. Based on literature data, BoCoV has been found in alpacas, while OC43 primarily causes mild upper respiratory tract disease in humans. Further research is planned for precise identification of these viruses and investigation of the whole genome sequence.