Susceptibility to SARS, MERS, and COVID-19 from animal health perspective

Abstract

Viruses are having great time as they seem to have bogged humans down. Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), and novel coronavirus (COVID-19) are the three major coronaviruses of present-day global human and animal health concern. COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 is identified as the newest disease, presumably of bat origin. Different theories on the evolution of viruses are in circulation, yet there is no denying the fact that the animal source is the skeleton. The whole world is witnessing the terror of the COVID-19 pandemic that is following the same path of SARS and MERS, and seems to be more severe. In addition to humans, several species of animals are reported to have been infected with these life-threatening viruses. The possible routes of transmission and their zoonotic potentialities are the subjects of intense research. This review article aims to overview the link of all these three deadly coronaviruses among animals along with their phylogenic evolution and cross-species transmission. This is essential since animals as pets or food are said to pose some risk, and their better understanding is a must in order to prepare a possible plan for future havoc in both human and animal health. Although COVID-19 is causing a human health hazard globally, its reporting in animals are limited compared to SARS and MERS. Non-human primates and carnivores are most susceptible to SARS-coronavirus and SARS-CoV-2, respectively, whereas the dromedary camel is susceptible to MERS-coronavirus. Phylogenetically, the trio viruses are reported to have originated from bats and have special capacity to undergo mutation and genomic recombination in order to infect humans through its reservoir or replication host. However, it is difficult to analyze how the genomic pattern of coronaviruses occurs. Thus,increased possibility of new virus-variants infecting humans and animals in the upcoming days seems to be the biggest challenge for the future of the world. One health approach is portrayed as our best way ahead, and understanding the animal dimension will go a long way in formulating such preparedness plans.
 Keywords: Animal health, COVID-19, Cross-species, One health, Trio coronaviruses.

Multiple relationships between aerosol and COVID-19: A framework for global studies

“…COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease 2019) is another infectious disease caused by coronavirus following MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) and SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome). The number and speed of COVID-19 infections significantly exceed those of MERS and SARS ( Gautam et al, 2020 ; Javed et al, 2020 ). The virus that causes COVID-19 is named SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) ( Gorbalenya et al, 2020 ).…”

Animal coronaviruses and coronavirus disease 2019: Lesson for One Health approach

“…MERS spread to 27 countries where a total of 2,494 positive cases had been reported with a case fatality of 34.4% globally, while Saudi Arabia alone had 2,102 cases with 780 deaths, 37.1% death rate, till the end of November 2019 (WHO, 2020d). The viral sequence obtained from infected humans and dromedary camels was found to be almost identical, which concludes that human infection with MERS originated from camels (Raj et al, 2014;Gautam et al, 2020). Majority of CoVs associated with humans cause many respiratory diseases, like nasal discharge, common cold, cough, pneumonia, and bronchitis and enteric and neurological problems, especially affecting the elderly, children, and immunocompromised patients (Pene et al, 2003;Walsh et al, 2013).…”

“…Genetic and molecular analysis revealed that the causative agent was the coronavirus, which was different from the previous human CoVs, and hence was provisionally named as novel CoV of 2019 (2019-nCov) by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the disease associated with it was called as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (Du Toit, 2020). Later on, ICTV named the virus as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (Gorbalenya et al, 2020). Considering the rapid outbreak of COVID-19, on 30 January 2020, the disease was declared as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (WHO, 2020a), which was ultimately declared as a global pandemic by the WHO on 11 March 2020 (WHO, 2020b).…”

Evolutionary differences in the ACE2 reveals the molecular origins of COVID-19 susceptibility

“…Hints at the molecular origins of COVID-19 susceptibility can be found analyzing the susceptibility of different organisms to the coronavirus. The ACE2 receptors are found in a diverse span of the animal kingdom, including mammals, birds, and aquatic life, which have varying degrees of COVID-19 susceptibility [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16].…”

“…For example, it is known that mice are immune to COVID-19 while on the contrary the Bronx Zoo tiger Nadia [12] had tested positive for COVID-19 and also exhibited many of the symptoms observed in infected humans. To date, a number of animals have been classified as either being susceptible or immune to COVID-19 [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16].…”