Detection, Identification & Sequencing of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) among Sudanese Patients

Abstract

MERS-CoV virus is a newly emerged coronaviruses in KSA in 2012; followed by a lot of cases in the Middle East & other European, American & African countries. The goal of this study is to detect, identify & sequencing of MERS-CoV among Sudanese patients suffering from respiratory diseases by using the orf1a with upE gene for the virus detections. Phylogenetic analysis of upE gene of MERS-CoV was done using ViPR. MERS-CoV virus seems to be highly prevalent among Sudanese population especially among patients from Al-Shaab hospital than individuals from the International Khartoum Airport (86.8% & 12.1% vs 66.6% & 9.0%) respectively; this attributed to the fact that Al-Shaab hospital participants were symptomatic, having severe respiratory symptoms (possibly caused by coronaviruses). Phylogenetic analysis of the isolated viruses from Khartoum International Airport participant showed genetic similarity with KSA while Al-Shaab Teaching Hospital individuals showed genetic similarity with Thailand. Viral genomic were deposit in gene bank with those accession N.o: KY794400.1-KY794403.1 and MF133448-MF133457.