Zoonoses: The Camel as a Carrier of Six Transmissible Infectious Diseases

It is the economic backbone of desert regions and an icon of the Sahara. But behind its placid demeanor, the camel is now a major concern for veterinarians and public health officials. A study published in *Frontiers in Veterinary Science* reveals that this animal could be the missing link in the transmission chain of several serious infectious diseases affecting humans.

A Groundbreaking Scientific Review

Khalafalla’s study sifts through more than 800 scientific publications and identifies 22 that provide solid evidence (epidemiological or molecular) of disease transmission from camelids to humans. The result: six zoonoses are clearly identified, with pathogens well known to physicians and veterinarians at the top of the list:

• the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), implicated in 36% of reported cases;
• brucellosis (23% of cases);
• plague caused by Yersinia pestis (18% of cases);
• camelpox, which is closely related to smallpox (14% of cases);
• hepatitis E (genotype 7) and anthrax round out this high-risk picture.

More than half of the documented human transmissions have occurred since 2010, confirming a recent increase in the phenomenon.  

An Often Underestimated Risk

Transmission occurs primarily through raw milk, contaminated meat, or direct contact with animals, particularly in slaughterhouses or on farms. In some cases, such as with MERS-CoV, genetic analyses have shown a perfect match between the virus detected in the animal and that found in the human patient. The study specifically mentions several cases that occurred in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Sudan, Niger, and Libya, where camel meat consumption led to human infections that were sometimes fatal.  

The camel: a harbinger of future pandemics?

Although less widely publicized than rodents or bats, the camel is nevertheless emerging as a serious zoonotic reservoir. According to the study’s author, certain pathogens associated with camelids—such as Q fever, Rift Valley fever, and tuberculosis—also warrant increased surveillance, although their transmission to humans via these animals has not yet been formally proven.  

A “One Health” Approach Is Needed Now More Than Ever

In light of these findings, the author issues a call to action: “It is imperative to strengthen epidemiological surveillance in areas where camelids play a major economic role, while raising public awareness of the risks associated with consuming unpasteurized or undercooked products. ” Vaccination, veterinary inspection of food products, biosecurity at markets… these are all urgent measures that must be taken in the affected countries, as well as in importing regions where camelid-derived products are gaining popularity.   As interactions between humans and farm animals intensify, this study illustrates just how much zoonoses lie at the intersection of several disciplines. Epidemiology, veterinary medicine, public health: the boundaries are blurring because, today more than ever, the next pandemic could very well originate from an animal previously considered harmless.