On-site detection of MERS-CoV infections in a camel slaughterhouse in Kenya using a commercial rapid antigen test
The commercial Bionote MERS-CoV antigen test kit demonstrates reliable, clade-independent detection, enabling rapid MERS-CoV surveillance in camels in high-risk settings. The majority of antigen-positive samples contained infectious virus suggesting its applicability for assessing infection risks at slaughterhouses by the rapid test. The successful identification of MERS-CoV-infected camels at the point of slaughter underscores the critical importance of rapid diagnostics in high-exposure environments to mitigate zoonotic transmission and protect the health of slaughterhouse workers.
Authors
- Julius Oyugi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3702-7613)
- Christian Drosten (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7923-0519)
- Samuel M. Thumbi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5754-0556)
- Nyamai Mutono (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7378-0007)
- Victor Riitho (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0624-0115)
- Johanna Wildemann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1299-4706)
- Brian Ogoti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4992-6838)
- Julia Tesch
- Marianne Mureithi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9119-3167)
- Victor M. Corman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3605-0136)
- Jordi Rodon (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1032-9091)
- Marcel A. Müller (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2242-5117)
Institutions
- University of Nairobi (KE)
- Queen Mary University of London (GB)
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (DE)
- German Center for Infection Research (DE)
- Kenya AIDS Vaccine Initiative (KE)
- Institute of Clinical Research (US)
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin (DE)
- CS Diagnostics (DE)
- Washington State University (US)
- University of Edinburgh (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Frontiers in Veterinary Science
- Published
- 2025-09-15
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2025.1675847
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.40