scholarly journals Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in Antillean Manatees (Trichechus Manatusmanatus)

Author(s):  
Fábio Lopes Melo ◽  
Bruna Bezerra ◽  
Fabia Oliveira Luna ◽  
Nahir Alejandra Navarrete Barragan ◽  
Rodrigo Moraes Loyo Arcoverde ◽  
...  

Abstract For two years, the world has been experiencing a coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. Non-human animals are susceptible to the virus, including marine mammals. Here we aimed to test Antillean manatees, Trichechus manatus manatus, for the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). We collected samples from 19 individuals kept under the responsibility of the Brazilian centre for research and conservation of aquatic mammals (ICMBio/CMA). We analysed the samples through RT-PCR and RT-LAMP-PCR and found that two of the 19 manatees tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Such a result led to a new biosecurity protocol in the ICMBio/CMA to avoid potential human-manatee coronavirus contamination, showing how we can use simple genetic tools to improve the care and conservation of manatees.

2008 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renata S. Sousa-Lima ◽  
Adriano P. Paglia ◽  
Gustavo A. B. da Fonseca

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denise Gonçalves ◽  
Rafael de Queiroz Prado ◽  
Eric Almeida Xavier ◽  
Natália Cristina de Oliveira ◽  
Paulo Marcos da Matta Guedes ◽  
...  

Dengue fever is a noncontagious infectious disease caused by dengue virus (DENV). DENV belongs to the familyFlaviviridae, genusFlavivirus, and is classified into four antigenically distinct serotypes: DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4. The number of nations and people affected has increased steadily and today is considered the most widely spread arbovirus (arthropod-borne viral disease) in the world. The absence of an appropriate animal model for studying the disease has hindered the understanding of dengue pathogenesis. In our study, we have found that immunocompetent C57BL/6 mice infected intraperitoneally with DENV-1 presented some signs of dengue disease such as thrombocytopenia, spleen hemorrhage, liver damage, and increase in production of IFNγand TNFαcytokines. Moreover, the animals became viremic and the virus was detected in several organs by real-time RT-PCR. Thus, this animal model could be used to study mechanism of dengue virus infection, to test antiviral drugs, as well as to evaluate candidate vaccines.


2005 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 873-879 ◽  
Author(s):  
LUCY A. NEWMAN ◽  
PHYLLIS R. ROBINSON

It has long been hypothesized that the visual systems of animals are evolutionarily adapted to their visual environment. The entrance many millions of years ago of mammals into the sea gave these new aquatic mammals completely novel visual surroundings with respect to light availability and predominant wavelengths. This study examines the cone opsins of marine mammals, hypothesizing, based on previous studies [Fasick et al. (1998) and Levenson & Dizon (2003)], that the deep-dwelling marine mammals would not have color vision because the pressure to maintain color vision in the dark monochromatic ocean environment has been relaxed. Short-wavelength-sensitive (SWS) and long-wavelength-sensitive (LWS) cone opsin genes from two orders (Cetacea and Sirenia) and an additional suborder (Pinnipedia) of aquatic mammals were amplified from genomic DNA (for SWS) and cDNA (for LWS) by PCR, cloned, and sequenced. All animals studied from the order Cetacea have SWS pseudogenes, whereas a representative from the order Sirenia has an intact SWS gene, for which the corresponding mRNA was found in the retina. One of the pinnipeds studied (harp seal) has an SWS pseudogene, while another species (harbor seal) appeared to have an intact SWS gene. However, no SWS cone opsin mRNA was found in the harbor seal retina, suggesting a promoter or splice site mutation preventing transcription of the gene. The LWS opsins from the different species were expressed in mammalian cells and reconstituted with the 11-cis-retinal chromophore in order to determine maximal absorption wavelengths (λmax) for each. The deeper dwelling Cetacean species had blue shifted λmax values compared to shallower-dwelling aquatic species. Taken together, these findings support the hypothesis that in the monochromatic oceanic habitat, the pressure to maintain color vision has been relaxed and mutations are retained in the SWS genes, resulting in pseudogenes. Additionally, LWS opsins are retained in the retina and, in deeper-dwelling animals, are blue shifted in λmax.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 143-148
Author(s):  
Gordana Todorović ◽  
Aleksandar Joldžić ◽  
Slađana Anđelić ◽  
Darko Nedeljković

Introduction/Objective Severe acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) is a new respiratory disease -COVID-19. A virus from the Coronaviridae family, highly contagious and virulent took over the world in a very short time causing the 2019/2020 pandemic. We are presenting the case of COVID-19 transmission among family members, patients of various ages, sex, clinical presentation and findings, who have been infected in different ways. Case reports Three patients are described, all with different coronavirus-specific symptomatology. Symptoms ranged from fatigue and loss of appetite with no other, more prominent symptoms in the youngest patient, to fever, high temperature, diarrhoea, muscle ache and chest pain during inspiration in the oldest patient. The third patient's dominant symptoms were dry, non-productive cough, lack of oxygen, shortness of breath and perspiration on exertion, headache and normal temperature, with radiographically confirmed bilateral pneumonia. Laboratory findings (leukopenia, lymphocytopenia with elevated C-reactive protein levels, high erythrocyte sedimentation rate and lactate dehydrogenase levels) were consistent with a viral infection, highly suspicious of SARS-COV-2, which was confirmed with a real-time RT-PCR test in all three patients. After being hospitalized in the Clinical Hospital Center "Zemun" Department of Pulmonology and treated with symptomatic, antiviral and antibiotic therapy, the disease regressed and the RT-PCR tests became negative. Conclusion SARS-COV-2 is a very aggressive and potent cause of the coronavirus disease. The presented cases confirm the possibility of quick transmission within a family through direct and indirect contact, as well as the diversity of symptoms, laboratory and clinical findings. Our clinical examples are similar in symptomatology and available results to cases from other parts of the world hit with the pandemic.


Author(s):  
Jahnvi Garg ◽  
Ranjit S. Ambad ◽  
Nandkishor Bankar

Introduction: This article includes the effect of Corona virus disease on cancer patients and their healthcare facilities. The global pandemic mentioned around the world has impacted the most vulnerable group of patients- cancer. With the assistance of RT PCR tests and HRCT, oncologists and doctors have tried to provide treatment to Covid-19 patients. Cancer patients are more susceptible to Covid-19 than non-cancer or non-survivor patients, according to reports. To avoid the prevalence and infection of cancer victims, WHO has suggested staying at home and continuing their treatment through telemedicine unless the situation is critical for which they might require therapy and/or surgery. Covid-19 is here to stay so we should practice with utmost care and precaution.


2012 ◽  
Vol 101 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
GD Bossart ◽  
AA Mignucci-Giannoni ◽  
AL Rivera-Guzman ◽  
NM Jimenez-Marrero ◽  
AC Camus ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard J. Barohn ◽  
Mary Hindle ◽  
Lauren Peck ◽  
Syed Hasan Raza Naqvi

  Since December 2019, COVID 19 pandemic has devastated communities across the world. As number of patients recovered from COVID 19 continue to rise, question of acquired immunity versus chances of re-infection becomes critical to understand the future spread of infection. Here, we present a case of a patient previously recovered from COVID-19, develops new symptoms concerning for possible re-infection with positive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) after few months of initial infection.  


2011 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 593-596 ◽  
Author(s):  
João Carlos Gomes Borges ◽  
Leucio Câmara Alves ◽  
Maria Aparecida da Gloria Faustino ◽  
Miriam Marmontel

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