Table 1 Comparison of coronaviruses

Epidemiology

Dec 2019, Wuhan, China

Nov 2002, Guangdong, China

April 2012, Saudi Arabia

Animal reservoir

Bats

Bats

Bats

Intermediate host

Pangolins/minks (yet to be confirmed)

Palm civets

Camels

Receptor target

ACE2

ACE2

DPP4

Fatality rate

2.3%

9.5%

34.4%

Genetic similarity with the other

79.5% SARS-CoV

50% MERS-CoV

79.5% SARS-CoV-2

50% SARS-CoV-2

Virus type

SS-RNA

RNA

RNA

Total RNA sequence length of pathogen

29,903 bp

29,751 bp

30,108 bp

M:F ratio

2.70:1

1:1.25

2:1

Transmission route

Droplets; faeco-oral transmission; contact with infected individual or things

Human-to-human

Droplets; contact with infected individual or things; bat-civets-human

Human-to-human

Touching infected camel or consumption of meat or milk

Limited human-to-human transmission

Clinical symptoms

Fever, fatigue, dry cough

Fever, cough, myalgia, dyspnea, diarrhea

Fever, cough, respiratory distress, vomiting, diarrhea

Incubation

7–14 days, 24 days

2–7 days

5–6 days

R₀

2.68

2.5

> 1

Diagnostic methods

RRT-PCR, RT-PCR, RT-lamp, RRT-lamp, coronavirus detection kit

RRT-PCR, RT-PCR, RT-lamp, RRT-lamp, coronavirus detection kit

RRT-PCR, ELISA, micro neutralization assay, MERS-CoV serology test

Chest X-ray

Bilateral multi-lobular ground glass opacities

Ground glass opacities

Ground glass opacities; consolidation

Chest CT scan

No nodular opacities

Lobar consolidation; nodular opacities

Single or multiple opacities; bilateral glass opacities; sub-pleural and lower lobe predominance; septal thickness

Prevention

Hand hygiene; cough etiquette; avoiding unnecessary touching of the eyes or face.

Hand hygiene; cough etiquette; avoiding unnecessary touching of the eyes or face.

Hand hygiene; cough etiquette; avoiding unnecessary touching of the eyes or face; avoiding raw milk and meat consumption.

Treatment

Ritonavir; lopinavir (in testing)

Glucocorticoids; interferon

Ribavirin; interferon; analgesics (treatment not yet determined)