scholarly journals Anthropogenic Ecological Changes and Spill Over of Viruses - A Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 594-599
Author(s):  
Monica Mahajan ◽  
Khushboo Bhardwaj
Keyword(s):  
Natural Environment ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Nipah Virus ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Domestic Species ◽  
Human Contact ◽  
Zoonotic Viruses ◽  
Ecological Changes ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Wild Life

Biodiversity protects ecosystem against infectious diseases. Increased human contact with wild life have caused high impact diseases such as SARS, Novel Corona virus, Nipah Virus, Ebola fever and many more. Anthropogenic activities such as hunting, farming, human encroachments, wild life trade, introduction of domestic species, bush meat hunting, road building, mining and increased human wildlife contact rates have lead to massive decline in biodiversity and increased risk of spilling over of dangerous viruses from animals to humans primarily due to host shifts. Human preference to high meat diet is also on rise in many countries. Wet markets have significant contribution in amplifying epizootic virus transmission and increased human exposure. Species in the primate and bat orders harbor a number of zoonotic viruses. Our destruction of nature, loss of habitat and biodiversity possibly tend to promote viral emergence. Invasion of undisturbed places leads to more and more exposure and create habitat where viral transmission is easier. Interference with a natural environment/habitat can, therefore, worsen the health risks. The erosion of biodiversity may lead to proliferation of species that are most likely to transmit new diseases to humans. Preserving habitat, biodiversity and natural environment is therefore one of the essential issues that cannot be put at the back any more.

scholarly journals 491. Aerosol-Generating Medical Procedures: Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and Emerging Viruses

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S312-S312
Author(s):  
Seth D Judson ◽  
Vincent J Munster
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Nosocomial Transmission ◽  
Medical Procedures ◽  
Emerging Viruses ◽  
Zoonotic Viruses ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Hospital Acquired

Abstract Background During the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), many questions arose regarding risks for hospital-acquired or nosocomial transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Aerosol generating medical procedures (AGMPs), techniques that can generate infectious, virus-laden aerosols, could potentially amplify transmission among healthcare workers (HCWs). Thus, it was widely recommended that HCWs use airborne precautions when performing AGMPs. However, in clinical settings it is often unclear what procedures constitute AGMPs and how the risk varies by procedure or pathogen. We set out to further define AGMPs and assess the risk for nosocomial transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and other high-risk viruses via AGMPs. Methods We identified potential AGMPs and emerging viruses that were high-risk for nosocomial transmission through reviewing experimental and clinical data. Potential AGMPs were those associated with previous virus transmission or mechanically capable of transmission. High-risk viruses were defined as those that cause severe disease in humans for which limited therapies or interventions exist, are infectious via aerosols in humans or non-human primates (NHPs), found in the respiratory tract of infected humans or NHPs, and had previous evidence of nosocomial transmission. Results We identified multiple potential AGMPs, which could be divided into those that generate aerosols or induce a patient to form aerosols, as well as eight families of high-risk viruses. All of the viruses were emerging zoonotic RNA viruses. In the family Coronaviridae, we identified potential evidence for SARS-CoV-1, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2 transmission via AGMPs. SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 were also found to be similarly stable when aerosolized. Conclusion Multiple emerging zoonotic viruses pose a high risk for nosocomial transmission through a variety of AGMPs. Given the similar stability of SARS-CoV-2 with SARS-CoV-1 when aerosolized and prior nosocomial transmission of SARS-CoV-1 via AGMPs, we suspect that certain AGMPs pose an increased risk for SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Additional experimental studies and on-site clinical sampling during AGMPs are necessary to further risk stratify AGMPs. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

scholarly journals A Mathematical Model for Nipah Virus Infection

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Assefa Denekew Zewdie ◽  
Sunita Gakkhar
Keyword(s):  
Virus Infection ◽  
Reproduction Number ◽  
Initial Conditions ◽  
Nipah Virus ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Globally Asymptotically Stable ◽  
Dead Bodies ◽  
Manifold Theory ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Given

It has been reported that unprotected contact with the dead bodies of infected individuals is a plausible way of Nipah virus transmission. An SIRD model is proposed in this paper to investigate the impact of unprotected contact with dead bodies of infected individuals before burial or cremation and their disposal rate on the dynamics of Nipah virus infection. The model is analyzed, and the reproduction number is computed. It is established that the disease-free state is globally asymptotically stable when the reproduction number is less than unity and unstable if it is greater than unity. By using the central manifold theory, we observe that the endemic equilibrium is locally stable near to unity. It is concluded that minimizing unsafe contact with the infected dead body and/or burial or cremation as fast as possible contributes positively. Further, the numerical simulations for the given choice of data and initial conditions illustrate that the endemic state is stable and the disease persists in the community when the reproduction number is greater than one.

Rethinking pandemic preparedness in the Anthropocene

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 153-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig Stephen
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Natural Environment ◽  
Health Agency ◽  
Determinants Of Health ◽  
Pandemic Preparedness ◽  
Intelligence Gathering ◽  
Ecological Changes ◽  
The Social ◽  
The World

The social and ecological changes accompanying the Anthropocene require changes in how pandemics are anticipated, conceived, and managed. Pandemics need to be reframed from infections we can predict to inevitable infectious and non-communicable surprises with which we need to cope. A hazard-by-hazard approach to planning and response is insufficient when the next pandemic cannot be predicted. Decision-making will benefit from scoping the problem broadly to generate deeper insights into potential threats. The origins of pandemics come from our relationships with the world around us. Health leaders, therefore, need to be aware of primordial determinants of risk arising from these changing relationships. Cross-sectoral co-learning to anticipate surprise will require bridging agents embedded within a health agency to facilitate transdisciplinary intelligence gathering. A unified set of guidelines is needed to promote pandemic resilience by collaboratively tending to the determinants of health for each other, our communities, and the natural environment.

scholarly journals Global shifts in mammalian population trends reveal key predictors of virus spillover risk

2020 ◽  
Vol 287 (1924) ◽  
pp. 20192736 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine K. Johnson ◽  
Peta L. Hitchens ◽  
Pranav S. Pandit ◽  
Julie Rushmore ◽  
Tierra Smiley Evans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Zoonotic Disease ◽  
Wildlife Habitat ◽  
Transmission Risk ◽  
Population Declines ◽  
Zoonotic Viruses

Emerging infectious diseases in humans are frequently caused by pathogens originating from animal hosts, and zoonotic disease outbreaks present a major challenge to global health. To investigate drivers of virus spillover, we evaluated the number of viruses mammalian species have shared with humans. We discovered that the number of zoonotic viruses detected in mammalian species scales positively with global species abundance, suggesting that virus transmission risk has been highest from animal species that have increased in abundance and even expanded their range by adapting to human-dominated landscapes. Domesticated species, primates and bats were identified as having more zoonotic viruses than other species. Among threatened wildlife species, those with population reductions owing to exploitation and loss of habitat shared more viruses with humans. Exploitation of wildlife through hunting and trade facilitates close contact between wildlife and humans, and our findings provide further evidence that exploitation, as well as anthropogenic activities that have caused losses in wildlife habitat quality, have increased opportunities for animal–human interactions and facilitated zoonotic disease transmission. Our study provides new evidence for assessing spillover risk from mammalian species and highlights convergent processes whereby the causes of wildlife population declines have facilitated the transmission of animal viruses to humans.

scholarly journals 73 Managing health during the receiving period

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 25-25
Author(s):  
John T Richeson
Keyword(s):  
Great Plains ◽  
Health Management ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Management Program ◽  
Water Tank ◽  
Early Disease Detection ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Cattle Health

Abstract Cattle originating from the southeastern United States and received in stocker and feedlot facilities in the southern Great Plains are at increased risk for bovine respiratory disease (BRD) and other health disorders because the marketing and relocation process may result in stress-induced immunosuppression, increased respiratory virus transmission, and poor nutritional status. Cattle health directly affects growth performance because stress and the inflammatory response to infection results in tissue catabolism and anorexia. Preconditioning practices at the ranch origin, such as vaccination, castration, weaning, and feed bunk and water tank exposure, can significantly improve health outcome during the receiving period; however, this practice is underutilized, resulting in high-risk, commingled calves entering subsequent production sectors. Antimicrobial metaphylaxis is one of the most effective management strategies to control an anticipated outbreak of BRD in newly received calves, yet antimicrobial use in food animals is under intense scrutiny. Antimicrobial alternatives such as direct-fed microbial products may provide health benefits but uncertainty regarding the route and timing of application, effective dose, and product selection will require further research to improve application. Nutritional stress resulting from reduced feed and water intake before, during, and after relocation and potential trace mineral deficiency upon arrival must be considered in a comprehensive health management program. Finally, detection of BRD or other diseases in large groups of cattle is challenging because of the prey instinct to disguise clinical signs of illness. Technology that continuously monitor individual cattle behavior may provide early disease detection with greater sensitivity and specificity than traditional methods but several barriers to adoption exist. This symposium presentation will outline the multitude of factors to consider in managing cattle health during the receiving period and provide research-based evidence that challenge paradigm regarding health management of newly received cattle.

scholarly journals Association of Selected Phenotypic Markers of Lymphocyte Activation and Differentiation with Perinatal Human Immunodeficiency Virus Transmission and Infant Infection

2005 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 622-631 ◽  
Author(s):  
John S. Lambert ◽  
Jack Moye ◽  
Susan F. Plaeger ◽  
E. Richard Stiehm ◽  
James Bethel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
T Cells ◽  
Hiv Transmission ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Lymphocyte Activation ◽  
Phenotypic Markers ◽  
Perinatal Hiv ◽  
Hla Dr ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus

ABSTRACT This study of a subset of women and infants participating in National Institutes of Health Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group protocol 185 evaluated lymphocyte phenotypic markers of immune activation and differentiation to determine their association with the likelihood of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission from the women to their infants and the potential for early identification and/or prognosis of infection in the infants. Lymphocytes from 215 human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV)-infected women and 192 of their infants were analyzed by flow cytometry with an extended three-color panel of monoclonal antibodies. Women who did not transmit to their infants tended to have higher CD4+ T cells. Most notably, levels of total CD8+ T cells and CD8+ CD38+ cells made significant independent contributions to predicting the risk of mother-to-child transmission. Adjusting for HIV-1 RNA level at entry, a one percentage-point increase in these marker combinations was associated with a nine percent increase in the likelihood of maternal transmission. Total as well as naïve CD4+ T cells were significantly higher in uninfected than infected infants. Total CD8+ cells, as well as CD8+cells positive for HLA-DR+, CD45 RA+ HLA-DR+, and CD28+ HLA-DR+ were elevated in infected infants. Detailed immunophenotyping may be helpful in predicting which pregnant HIV-infected women are at increased risk of transmitting HIV to their infants. Increasing differences in lymphocyte subsets between infected and uninfected infants became apparent as early as six weeks of age. Detailed immunophenotyping may be useful in supporting the diagnosis of HIV infection in infants with perinatal HIV exposure.

Intra-stadial tick-borne Thogoto virus (Orthomyxoviridae) transmission: accelerated arbovirus transmission triggered by host death

Parasitology ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 122 (4) ◽  
pp. 439-446 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. WANG ◽  
P. A. NUTTALL
Keyword(s):  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Rhipicephalus Appendiculatus ◽  
Host Population ◽  
Pathogen Transmission ◽  
Ixodid Ticks ◽  
Laboratory Model ◽  
Susceptible Host ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Game Hunting ◽  
Host Death

Haematophagous insect vectors of arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) feed repeatedly. Consequently, they can transmit arboviruses to more than one host during the same developmental stage (intra-stadial transmission). By contrast, ixodid ticks generally feed only once at each parasitic stage (larva, nymph, and adult) and hence they have only one opportunity for tick-borne virus transmission per stadium (inter-stadial transmission). Under natural conditions, tick-infested hosts may die (from disease or other causes) before the ticks have completed their long period of engorgement. A laboratory model was used to investigate the consequences of premature host death on tick-borne virus transmission. We report intra-stadial transmission of Thogoto virus by the nymphal, male, and female ticks of Rhipicephalus appendiculatus. Tick-borne Thogoto virus infection caused viraemia and death of hamsters before the nymphal and adult ticks feeding on them had completed engorgement. The resulting partially fed ticks were allowed to continue engorgement on new, uninfected hosts (interrupted feeding). During feeding on the subsequent hosts, they transmitted the virus intra-stadially to susceptible hosts (hamsters), and to uninfected co-feeding ticks on non-susceptible hosts (guinea-pigs). Intra-stadial transmission, mediated by interrupted feeding, may help explain outbreaks of rapid and fatal tick-borne viral diseases, and the epidemiology as well as evolution of virulence, in a susceptible host population. Additionally, intra-stadial transmission provides an increased risk of tick-borne pathogen transmission to humans and domestic animals during slaughter and game hunting.

scholarly journals Management of pregnant women in times of COVID-19 our experience from Kashmir valley

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 1379
Author(s):  
Syed Naseer ◽  
Syed Uzma Andrabi ◽  
Syed Ishfa Andrabi ◽  
Humaira Tabasum
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Safe Motherhood ◽  
Normal Vaginal Delivery ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Transmission Potential ◽  
Medical College ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Increased Risk

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, is a global public health emergency. COVID-19 is a rapidly evolving situation, and there is limited data reporting its impact on pregnant women. Our study aimed to find the symptomatology, clinical courses and outcome of pregnant women with COVID-19 and to assess the vertical transmission potential of COVID-19 in pregnancy.Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Medical College, Department of Gynaecology and obstetrics, Srinagar from May 2020 to September 2020. All COVID-19 positive pregnant patients admitted in our institution were included in our study.Results: The study included 100 Covid-19 positive pregnant women. Most of them were between 30 to 40 years of age. Median gestational age was 32.8 weeks. Comorbidity was present in 18 of our patients. 7 patients had gestational diabetes and 1 with overt diabetes, 5 were hypertensive, 3 had hypothyroidism, 1 with anti-phospholipid antibody syndrome (APLA) and 1 with asthma.44 patients were primigravidae and 56 were multigravidae. 27 patients delivered preterm and 44 with term pregnancy. 47 had undergone caesarean section and 24 normal vaginal delivery.88% of our patients were asymptomatic for covid-19 disease while as 12 patients had Covid-19 disease symptoms. The main complaints reported by patients related to covid-19 disease was mild dry cough and fever (9%). Two patients developed severe covid-19 pneumonia with ARDS and were put on ventilator, expired after 20 days of illness. All neonates were subjected to RT-PCR with none producing positive results.Conclusions: Appropriate and timely management of Covid-19 positive pregnant women is a principle for safe motherhood and healthy offspring in times of global pandemic. The present data do not suggest an increased risk of severe disease among pregnant women. We encourage the breast feeding immediately after delivery as benefits overweigh any potential risks of virus transmission if any.

scholarly journals Survey of the terrestrial habitats and vegetation of Shetland, 1974 – a framework for long-term ecological monitoring

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire M. Wood ◽  
Robert G. H. Bunce
Keyword(s):  
Natural Environment ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Oil Industry ◽  
Ecological Monitoring ◽  
Robust Methods ◽  
Ecological Changes ◽  
Terrestrial Habitats ◽  
Environmental Monitoring Programme

Abstract. A survey of the natural environment was undertaken in Shetland in 1974, after concern was expressed that large-scale development from the new oil industry could threaten the natural features of the islands. A framework was constructed by the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology on which to select samples for the survey. The vegetation and habitat data that were collected, along with the sampling framework, have recently been made public via the following doi:10.5285/06fc0b8c-cc4a-4ea8-b4be-f8bd7ee25342 (Terrestrial habitat, vegetation and soil data from Shetland, 1974) and doi:10.5285/f1b3179e-b446-473d-a5fb-4166668da146 (Land Classification of Shetland 1974). In addition to providing valuable information about the state of the natural environment of Shetland, the repeatable and statistically robust methods developed in the survey were used to underpin the Countryside Survey, Great Britain's national long-term integrated environmental monitoring programme. The demonstration of the effectiveness of the methodology indicates that a repeat of the Shetland survey would yield statistics about ecological changes in the islands, such as those arising from the impacts of the oil industry, a range of socio-economic impacts, and perhaps climate change. Currently no such figures are available, although there is much information on the sociological impacts, as well as changes in agriculture.

scholarly journals Distinct spread of DNA and RNA viruses among mammals amid prominent role of domestic species

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Konstans Wells ◽  
Serge Morand ◽  
Maya Wardeh ◽  
Matthew Baylis
Keyword(s):  
Host Species ◽  
Rna Viruses ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Dna Viruses ◽  
Bayesian Hierarchical ◽  
Domestic Species ◽  
Global Database ◽  
Dna And Rna ◽  
Zoonotic Viruses

AbstractEmerging infectious diseases arising from pathogen spillover from mammals to humans comprise a substantial health threat. Tracing virus origin and predicting the most likely host species for future spillover events are major objectives in One Health disciplines. However, the species that share pathogens most widely with other mammals, and the role of different wildlife groups in sharing viruses with humans remain poorly identified. To address this challenge, we applied network analysis and Bayesian hierarchical models to a global database of mammal-virus associations. We show that domesticated mammals and some primates hold the most central positions in networks of known mammal-virus associations. We revealed strong evidence that DNA viruses were phylogenetically more host specific than RNA viruses, while the frequencies of sharing viruses among hosts and the proportion of zoonotic viruses in hosts were larger for RNA than DNA viruses. Among entire host-virus networks, Carnivora and Chiroptera hold central positions for mainly sharing RNA viruses with other host species, while network centrality of Primates scored relatively high for sharing DNA viruses. Ungulates hold central positions for sharing both RNA and DNA viruses. Acknowledging the role of domestic species in addition to host and virus traits in patterns of virus sharing is necessary to improve our understanding of virus spread and spillover in times of global change.

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