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Journal of Transmitted Diseases and Immunity
ISSN: 2573-0320
Page 81
Volume 4
May 10-11, 2018
Frankfurt, Germany
Immunology Research 2018
Tissue Science 2018
JOINT EVENT
2 2
n d
E d i t i o n o f I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o n f e r e n c e o n
Immunology and
Evolution of Infectious Diseases
&
1 2
t h
E d i t i o n o f I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o n f e r e n c e o n
Tissue Engineering and
Regenerative Medicine
M
ore than 2.5 million Muslim pilgrims are gathering in Mecca
during the Hajj pilgrimage annually. Hajj is one of the largest
mass gatherings of its kind in the world. Transmission of different
infectious diseases especially respiratory tract infections during
mass gatherings in holly places has a global effect when pilgrims
return to their country. The aim of this study was to determine
the prevalence of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus
(MERS-CoV) and influenza virus infections among Iranian
pilgrims returning from Hajj in 2017. Throat swabs collected
from 132 pilgrims with severe acute respiratory infections (SARI)
were examined for presence of MERS-CoV and influenza viruses
from 10 September until 4 October 2017 in National Influenza
Center, Tehran, Iran. Each sample was tested in a 25 µl reaction
for MERS-CoV and influenza A/B by using QuantiFast Probe
RT-PCR Kit (Qiagen, Germany). MERS-CoV was tested with
targeting the upstream region of the E gene (UpE) for screening
and the open reading frame 1b for confirmation. None of the
pilgrims tested positive for MERS-CoV, however, 20 (15.2%)
were positive for influenza viruses. Influenza A/H3N2, B and A/
H1N1 accounted for 60% (12/20), 30% (6/20) and 10% (2/20) of
the virus positive samples, respectively. This study showed the
prevalence of influenza infections among Iranian pilgrims and
suggests continuing surveillance and screening in the pilgrims,
appropriate vaccination and other preventive strategies especially
nowadays that the risk of influenza pandemic threatens the world.
Meanwhile testing for MERS-CoV is necessary for early diagnosis
to prevent virus transmission.
yavarian@tums.ac.irLack of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus
but prevalence of influenza virus in Iranian pilgrims
with severe acute respiratory infections- Hajj 2017
Jila Yavarian, NZ Shafiei Jandaghi, Maryam Naseri, Azadeh Shadab
and
Talat
Mokhtari Azad
Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran
J Transm Dis Immun 2018, Volume 2
DOI: 10.21767/2471-8084-C1-003