COVID-19 caused by a novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) originated in Wuhan (Hubei province, China) during late 2019. It has spread across the globe affecting nearly 21 million people with a toll of 0.75 million deaths and restricting the movement of most of the world population during the past 6 months. COVID-19 became the leading health, economic, and humanitarian challenge of the twenty-first century. In addition to the considerable COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in humans, several cases of SARS-CoV-2 infections in animal hosts (dog, cat, tiger, lion, and mink) have been reported. Thus, the concern of pet owners is increasing. Moreover, the dynamics of the disease requires further explanation, mainly concerning the transmission of the virus from humans to animals and vice versa. Therefore, this study aimed to gather information about the reported cases of COVID-19 transmission in animals through a literary review of works published in scientific journals and perform genomic and phylogenetic analyses of SARS-CoV-2 isolated from animal hosts. Although many instances of transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 have been reported, caution and further studies are necessary to avoid the occurrence of maltreatment in animals, and to achieve a better understanding of the dynamics of the disease in the environment, humans, and animals. Future research in the animal–human interface can help formulate and implement preventive measures to combat the further transmission of COVID-19.

(ICTV) adotou síndrome respiratória aguda grave 2 (SARS-CoV-2) como nome para o novo vírus causador da COVID-19. O presente trabalho objetivou reunir informação sobre a possível origem do novo coronavírus (SARS-CoV-2). Realizou-se uma revisão de literária de trabalhos nacionais e internacionais publicados em revistas científicas eletrônicas e impressas, acessíveis através da web, além de livros. Estudos aponta que SARS-CoV-2 seja um vírus quimérico entre um coronavírus de morcego e um coronavírus de origem desconhecida. Uma das possibilidades aponta para o morcego sendo reservatório da SARS-CoV-2, transmitindo ao homem via pangolim. Pangolim-CoV é 91,02% e 90,55% idêntico ao SARS-CoV-2 e BatCoV RaTG13. Logo, é improvável que a origem do SARS-CoV-2 seja artificial, por manipulação laboratorial. Entretanto, ainda que remota, são necessárias maiores investigações para que se possa descartar uma provável liberação do SARS-CoV-2.

Background The new coronavirus, named the severe acute respiratory coronavirus syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the etiological agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). COVID-19 originated in China and spread to other countries and continents causing a variety of respiratory and non-respiratory symptoms that led to death in severe cases. Scope and approach In this review, we discuss and analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on animal production systems and food products including meat, dairy, eggs, and processed food, in addition to assessing the pandemic's impact on animal health care systems, animal health care quality, animal welfare, food chain sustainability, and the global economy. We also provide effective recommendations to animal producers, veterinary healthcare professionals, workers in animal products industries, and governments to alleviate the effects of the pandemic on livestock farming and production systems. Key findings and conclusions Port restrictions, border restrictions, curfews, and social distancing limitations led to reduced quality, productivity, and competitiveness of key productive sectors. The restrictions have hit the livestock sector hard by disrupting the animal feed supply chain, reducing animal farming services, limiting animal health services including delays in diagnosis and treatment of diseases, limiting access to markets and consumers, and reducing labor-force participation. The inhumane culling of animals jeopardized animal welfare. Egg smashing, milk dumping, and other animal product disruptions negatively impacted food production, consumption, and access to food originating from animals. In summary, COVID-triggered lockdowns and limitations on local and international trade have taken their toll on food production, animal production, and animal health and welfare. COVID-19 reverberations could exacerbate food insecurity, hunger, and global poverty. The effects could be massive on the most vulnerable populations and the poorest nations.

A new virus, classified as a variant of the coronavirus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), is severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 or SARS-CoV-2. The virus can be inactivated by heating at 56 ºC for 30 minutes and by using lipid solvents such as ethanol (> 75%), isopropanol (> 70%), formaldehyde (> 0.7%), povidone iodine (> 0, 23%), sodium hypochlorite (> 0.21%), or hydrogen peroxide (> 0.5%), but not chlorhexidine. Another approach is to use a footbath at the entrance of a house. The use of irradiation with ultraviolet light for 60 minutes resulted in the inactivation of several coronaviruses.

Population growth and industrialization have led to a race for greater food and supply productivity. As a result, the occupation and population of forest areas, contact with wildlife and their respective parasites and vectors, the trafficking and consumption of wildlife, the pollution of water sources, and the accumulation of waste occur more frequently. Concurrently, the agricultural and livestock production for human consumption has accelerated, often in a disorderly way, leading to the deforestation of areas that are essential for the planet’s climatic and ecological balance. The effects of human actions on other ecosystems such as the marine ecosystem cause equally serious damage, such as the pollution of this habitat, and the reduction of the supply of fish and other animals, causing the coastal population to move to the continent. The sum of these factors leads to an increase in the demands such as housing, basic sanitation, and medical assistance, making these populations underserved and vulnerable to the effects of global warming and to the emergence of emerging and re-emerging diseases. In this article, we discuss the anthropic actions such as climate changes, urbanization, deforestation, the trafficking and eating of wild animals, as well as unsustainable agricultural intensification which are drivers for emerging and re-emerging of zoonotic pathogens such as viral (Ebola virus, hantaviruses, Hendravirus, Nipah virus, rabies, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus disease-2), bacterial (leptospirosis, Lyme borreliosis, and tuberculosis), parasitic (leishmaniasis) and fungal pathogens, which pose a substantial threat to the global community. Finally, we shed light on the urgent demand for the implementation of the One Health concept as a collaborative global approach to raise awareness and educate people about the science behind and the battle against zoonotic pathogens to mitigate the threat for both humans and animals.