SARS-CoV-2 host diversity: An update of natural infections and experimental evidence

Abstract

caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is now a pandemic threat. This virus is supposed to be spread by human to human transmission. Cellular angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the receptor of SARS-CoV-2 which is identical or similar in different species of animals such as pigs, ferrets, cats, orangutans, monkeys, and humans. Moreover, a recent study predicted that dogs might be secondary hosts during the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 from bat to human. Therefore, there is a possibility of spreading SARS-CoV-2 through domestic pets. There are now many reports of SARS-CoV-2 positive cases in dogs, cats, tigers, lion, and minks. Experimental data showed ferrets and cats are highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 as infected by virus inoculation and can transmit the virus directly or indirectly by droplets or airborne routes. Based on these natural infection reports and experimental data, whether the pets are responsible for SARS-CoV-2 spread to humans; needs to be deeply investigated. Humans showing clinical symptoms of respiratory infections have been undergoing for the COVID-19 diagnostic test but many infected people and few pets confirmed with SARS-CoV-2 remained asymptomatic. In this review, we summarize the natural cases of SARS-CoV-2 in animals with the latest researches conducted in this field. This review will be helpful to think insights of SARS-CoV-2

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Exhibits High Predicted Binding Affinity to ACE2 from Lagomorphs (Rabbits and Pikas)

“…The animal host range of SARS-CoV-2 has been predicted by sequence analysis and structure simulation studies [15,16]; however, not all key residues at the SARS-CoV-2-ACE2 interface, but rather only a limited number of them, have been considered in these studies. Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in animals was reviewed while this article was under revision [17,18]. Lagomorphs may act as an important wildlife reservoir for zoonotic viruses.…”

The role of wastewater treatment plants as tools for SARS-CoV-2 early detection and removal

“…However, it is reported that diseased humans have transmitted the virus naturally to ferrets, cats, dogs, tigers, lion and minks [ 3 , [56] , [57] , [58] , [59] ].Apart from minks farms, there is no evidence so far that livestock for human consumption such as cows, sheep and pigs have been infected in farms [ 60 ]. This last point is rather important if it is considered that in the case of MERS-CoV, which belongs to Coronaviridae beta subfamily like SARS-CoV-2 but not to the subgenus Sarbecovirus, camels [ 61 , 62 ] were suspected to be possible reservoirs or intermediate hosts for successive outbreaks.…”

A Retrospective Analysis of Influence of Environmental/Air Temperature and Relative Humidity on Sars-CoV-2 Outbreak

“…Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by SaRS-CoV-2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2) became a pandemic threat and serious public health emergency of international concern in the winter of 2019-20 1 . Though COVID-19 was reported for the first time on December 31, 2019 in Wuhan, China, the disease has spread very rapidly throughout the world due to its extremely high contagiousness 2,3 . The clinical symptoms of COVID-19 are mild to high fever, cough, fatigue, dyspnea, headache, and diarrhea, which depend on the age and condition of the infected patients 3,4 .…”

“…Though COVID-19 was reported for the first time on December 31, 2019 in Wuhan, China, the disease has spread very rapidly throughout the world due to its extremely high contagiousness 2,3 . The clinical symptoms of COVID-19 are mild to high fever, cough, fatigue, dyspnea, headache, and diarrhea, which depend on the age and condition of the infected patients 3,4 . However, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 is increasing worldwide due to human to human transmission, lack of vaccine, and antiviral drugs against SARS-CoV-2 2,3 .…”

“…The clinical symptoms of COVID-19 are mild to high fever, cough, fatigue, dyspnea, headache, and diarrhea, which depend on the age and condition of the infected patients 3,4 . However, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 is increasing worldwide due to human to human transmission, lack of vaccine, and antiviral drugs against SARS-CoV-2 2,3 .…”