scholarly journals Are Animals a Neglected Transmission Route of SARS-CoV-2?

Pathogens ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 480 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Hernández ◽  
David Abad ◽  
José María Eiros ◽  
David Rodríguez-Lázaro
Keyword(s):  
Close Contact ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Epidemiological Surveillance ◽  
Epidemiological Evidence ◽  
Exotic Animals ◽  
Animal Management ◽  
Animal Infection ◽  
Containment Measures ◽  
Exotic Animal

Little information on the SARS-CoV-2 virus in animals is available to date. Whereas no one husbandry animal case has been reported to date, which would have significant implications in food safety, companion animals play a role in COVID-19 epidemiology that opens up new questions. There is evidence that SARS-CoV-2 can infect felines, dogs and minks, and there is evidence of human-to-animal infection. Likewise, the S protein nucleotide sequence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus isolated in domestic animals and humans is identical, and the replication of the SARS-CoV-2 in cats is efficient. Besides, the epidemiological evidence for this current pandemic indicates that the spillover to humans was associated with close contact between man and exotic animals, very probably in Chinese wet markets, thus there is a growing general consensus that the exotic animal markets, should be strictly regulated. The examination of these findings and the particular role of animals in COVID-19 should be carefully analyzed in order to establish preparation and containment measures. Animal management and epidemiological surveillance must be also considered for COVID-19 control, and it can open up new questions regarding COVID-19 epidemiology and the role that animals play in it.

scholarly journals Serological Screening of Influenza A Virus Antibodies in Cats and Dogs Indicates Frequent Infection with Different Subtypes

2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shan Zhao ◽  
Nancy Schuurman ◽  
Malte Tieke ◽  
Berit Quist ◽  
Steven Zwinkels ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Influenza A Viruses ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Serological Screening ◽  
H1n1 Outbreak

ABSTRACT Influenza A viruses (IAVs) infect humans and a variety of other animal species. Infections with some subtypes of IAV were also reported in domestic cats and dogs. In addition to animal health implications, close contact between companion animals and humans also poses a potential risk of zoonotic IAV infections. In this study, serum samples from different cat and dog cohorts were analyzed for IAV antibodies against seven IAV subtypes, using three distinctive IAV-specific assays differing in IAV subtype-specific discriminatory power and sensitivity. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays against the complete hemagglutinin (HA) ectodomain or the HA1 domain were used, as well as a novel nanoparticle-based, virus-free hemagglutination inhibition assay. Using these three assays, we found cat and dog sera from different cohorts to be positive for antibodies against one or more IAV subtypes and/or strains. Cat and dog serum samples collected after the 2009 pandemic H1N1 outbreak exhibit much higher seropositivity against H1 compared to samples from before 2009. Cat sera, furthermore, displayed higher reactivity for avian IAVs than dog sera. Our findings show the added value of using complementary serological assays, which are based on reactivity with different numbers of HA epitopes, to study IAV antibody responses and for improved serosurveillance of IAV infections. We conclude that infection of cats and dogs with both human and avian IAVs of different subtypes is prevalent. These observations highlight the role of cats and dogs in IAV ecology and indicate the potential of these companion animals to give rise to novel (reassorted) viruses with increased zoonotic potential.

scholarly journals Evidence of Sharing ofKlebsiella pneumoniaeStrains between Healthy Companion Animals and Cohabiting Humans

2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cátia Marques ◽  
Adriana Belas ◽  
Catarina Aboim ◽  
Patrícia Cavaco-Silva ◽  
Graça Trigueiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Susceptibility ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Sequence Type ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Healthy Humans ◽  
Tract Infections ◽  
Healthy Participants

ABSTRACTThis study aimed to characterize the fecal colonization and sharing ofKlebsiella pneumoniaestrains between companion animals and humans living in close contact. Fecal samples were collected from 50 healthy participants (24 humans, 18 dogs, and 8 cats) belonging to 18 households. Samples were plated onto MacConkey agar (MCK) plates with and without cefotaxime or meropenem supplementation. Up to fiveK. pneumoniaecolonies per participant were compared by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) after XbaI restriction.K. pneumoniaestrains with unique pulse types from each participant were characterized for antimicrobial susceptibility, virulence genes, and multilocus sequence type (MLST). FecalK. pneumoniaepulse types were compared to those of clinicalK. pneumoniaestrains from animal and human patients with urinary tract infections (n = 104).K. pneumoniaecolonization was detected in nonsupplemented MCK in around 38% of dogs (n = 7) and humans (n = 9).K. pneumoniaestrains isolated from dogs belonged to sequence type 17 (ST17), ST188, ST252, ST281, ST423, ST1093, ST1241, ST3398, and ST3399. None of theK. pneumoniaestrains were multidrug resistant or hypervirulent. Two households included multiple colonized participants. Notably, two colonized dogs within household 15 (H15) shared a strain each (ST252 and ST1241) with one coliving human. One dog from H16 shared one PFGE-undistinguishableK. pneumoniaeST17 strain with two humans from different households; however, the antimicrobial susceptibility phenotypes of these three strains differed. Two main virulence genotypes were detected, namelyfimH-1 mrkD ycfM entB kfuandfimH-1 mrkD ycfM entB kpn. These results highlight the potential role of dogs as a reservoir ofK. pneumoniaeto humans and vice versa. Furthermore, to our best knowledge, this is the first report of healthy humans and dogs sharingK. pneumoniaestrains that were undistinguishable by PFGE/MLST.

SARS-COV2 virus and Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽  
pp. 977-982
Author(s):  
Mohamed J. Saadh ◽  
Bashar Haj Rashid M ◽  
Roa’a Matar ◽  
Sajeda Riyad Aldibs ◽  
Hala Sbaih ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Close Contact ◽  
Antiviral Agents ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Fatal Disease ◽  
Mild Disease ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

SARS-COV2 virus causes Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and represents the causative agent of a potentially fatal disease that is of great global public health concern. The novel coronavirus (2019) was discovered in 2019 in Wuhan, the market of the wet animal, China with viral pneumonia cases and is life-threatening. Today, WHO announces COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic. COVID-19 is likely to be zoonotic. It is transmitted from bats as intermediary animals to human. Also, the virus is transmitted from human to human who is in close contact with others. The computerized tomographic chest scan is usually abnormal even in those with no symptoms or mild disease. Treatment is nearly supportive; the role of antiviral agents is yet to be established. The SARS-COV2 virus spreads faster than its two ancestors, the SARS-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), but has lower fatality. In this article, we aimed to summarize the transmission, symptoms, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and vaccine to control the spread of this fatal disease.

scholarly journals Importation of Ticks on Companion Animals and the Risk of Spread of Tick-Borne Diseases to Non-Endemic Regions in Europe

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 6
Author(s):  
Alicja Buczek ◽  
Weronika Buczek
Keyword(s):  
Tick Species ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Human Mobility ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Rhipicephalus Sanguineus ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Rapid Spread ◽  
Risk Of Exposure ◽  
Geographic Regions

Increased human mobility elevates the risk of exposure of companion animals travelling with their owners or imported from other regions to tick attacks. In this study, we highlight the potential role of dogs and cats taken for tourist trips or imported animals in the spread of ticks and tick-borne pathogens. The Rhipicephalus sanguineus tick, which is a vector of numerous pathogens causing diseases in animals and humans, is imported most frequently from endemic areas to many European countries. Additionally, alien tick species with high epizootic and epidemiological importance can be imported on dogs from other continents. Companion animals play an even greater role in the spread of autochthonous tick species and transmission of tick pathogens to other animals and humans. Although the veterinary and medical effects of the parasitism of ticks carried by companion animals travelling with owners or imported animals are poorly assessed, these animals seem to play a role in the rapid spread of tick-borne diseases. Development of strategies for protection of the health of companion animals in different geographic regions should take into account the potential emergence of unknown animal tick-borne diseases that can be transmitted by imported ticks.

scholarly journals Livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) prevalence in humans in close contact with animals and measures to reduce on-farm colonisation

2021 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Crespo-Piazuelo ◽  
Peadar G. Lawlor
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Animal Species ◽  
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Community Settings ◽  
Methicillin Resistant ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
On Farm

AbstractSince the 1940s, Staphylococcus aureus has adapted to the use of different antimicrobials to treat infections. Although S. aureus can act as a commensal bacterium, some strains are facultative pathogens and acquiring them can be fatal. In particular, treating infections caused by S. aureus with acquired antimicrobial resistance is problematic, as their treatment is more difficult. Some of these S. aureus variants are methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) with prevalence across the globe in health-care facilities, community settings and on livestock farms. Apart from humans, MRSA can colonise other animal species, and because of this, resistance to new antimicrobials can appear and jump between species. Livestock and companion animals are particularly important in this regard considering the relatively high usage of antimicrobials in these species. There is a risk to humans who come into direct contact with animals acquiring MRSA but there is also the risk of animals acquiring MRSA from colonised humans. In this review, we summarise studies conducted worldwide to characterise the prevalence of MRSA in veterinarians, farmers and other personnel who come into close contact with animals. Finally, alternative treatment, preventive measures and on-farm strategies to reduce MRSA introduction to a farm and carriage within a herd are discussed.

scholarly journals Role of Zoo-Housed Animals in the Ecology of Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens—A Review

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 210
Author(s):  
Johana Hrnková ◽  
Irena Schneiderová ◽  
Marina Golovchenko ◽  
Libor Grubhoffer ◽  
Natalie Rudenko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tick Species ◽  
Terrestrial Vertebrates ◽  
Exotic Animals ◽  
Host Pathogen ◽  
Medical Importance ◽  
Ecology Of Ticks ◽  
Definite Role

Ticks are ubiquitous ectoparasites, feeding on representatives of all classes of terrestrial vertebrates and transmitting numerous pathogens of high human and veterinary medical importance. Exotic animals kept in zoological gardens, ranches, wildlife parks or farms may play an important role in the ecology of ticks and tick-borne pathogens (TBPs), as they may serve as hosts for local tick species. Moreover, they can develop diseases of varying severity after being infected by TBPs, and theoretically, can thus serve as reservoirs, thereby further propagating TBPs in local ecosystems. The definite role of these animals in the tick–host-pathogen network remains poorly investigated. This review provides a summary of the information currently available regarding ticks and TBPs in connection to captive local and exotic wildlife, with an emphasis on zoo-housed species.

COVID-19 and nutritional deficiency: a review of existing knowledge

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-85
Author(s):  
Meghana Muthuvattur Pallath ◽  
Ashok Kumar Ahirwar ◽  
Satyendra Chandra Tripathi ◽  
Priyanka Asia ◽  
Apurva Sakarde ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Viral Infection ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Omega 3 Fatty Acids ◽  
Omega 3 ◽  
Antibody Affinity ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Underlying Diseases ◽  
Pro Inflammatory Cytokines

Abstract COVID-19 has resulted in an ongoing global pandemic, which spread largely among people who have had close contact with the infected person. The immunopathology of the SARS-CoV-2 virus includes the production of an excess amount of pro-inflammatory cytokines “a cytokine-storm”. The respiratory system (main), cardiovascular system and the gastrointestinal tract are the most affected body systems during viral infection. It has been found that most of the patients who require admission to hospital are elderly or have chronic underlying diseases. Higher cases of malnutrition and co-morbidities like diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases are reported in elderly patients due to which, the immune system weakens and hence, the response to the virus is diminished in magnitude. A deficiency of micronutrients results in impaired immune responses leading to improper secretion of cytokines, alterations in secretory antibody response and antibody affinity which increases susceptibility to viral infection. The deficiency of various micronutrients in COVID-19 patient can be treated by appropriate nutritional supplements, prescribed after evaluating the patients’ nutritional status. Here we aim to highlight the role of a few particular nutrients namely Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Omega-3 fatty acids, Zinc and Magnesium along with the synergistic roles they play in enhancing immunity and thus, maintaining homeostasis.

Epidemiological Evidence of Lesser Role of Thermostable Direct Hemolysin (TDH)–Related Hemolysin (TRH) Than TDH onVibrio parahaemolyticusPathogenicity

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shioko Saito ◽  
Yoshito Iwade ◽  
Eisuke Tokuoka ◽  
Tomohiro Nishio ◽  
Yoshimitsu Otomo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Epidemiological Evidence ◽  
Thermostable Direct Hemolysin

scholarly journals A Control Based Mathematical Model for the Evaluation of Intervention Lines in COVID-19 Epidemic Spread: The Italian Case Study

Symmetry ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 890
Author(s):  
Paolo Di Giamberardino ◽  
Rita Caldarella ◽  
Daniela Iacoviello
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Equilibrium Points ◽  
Italian Case ◽  
Control Actions ◽  
Containment Measures ◽  
Asymptomatic Subjects ◽  
The Impact

This paper addresses the problem of describing the spread of COVID-19 by a mathematical model introducing all the possible control actions as prevention (informative campaign, use of masks, social distancing, vaccination) and medication. The model adopted is similar to SEIQR, with the infected patients split into groups of asymptomatic subjects and isolated ones. This distinction is particularly important in the current pandemic, due to the fundamental the role of asymptomatic subjects in the virus diffusion. The influence of the control actions is considered in analysing the model, from the calculus of the equilibrium points to the determination of the reproduction number. This choice is motivated by the fact that the available organised data have been collected since from the end of February 2020, and almost simultaneously containment measures, increasing in typology and effectiveness, have been applied. The characteristics of COVID-19, not fully understood yet, suggest an asymmetric diffusion among countries and among categories of subjects. Referring to the Italian situation, the containment measures, as applied by the population, have been identified, showing their relation with the government's decisions; this allows the study of possible scenarios, comparing the impact of different possible choices.

scholarly journals Molecular survey of mcr1 and mcr2 plasmid mediated colistin resistance genes in Escherichia coli isolates of animal origin in Iran

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kayhan Ilbeigi ◽  
Mahdi Askari Badouei ◽  
Hossein Vaezi ◽  
Hassan Zaheri ◽  
Sina Aghasharif ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Resistance Genes ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Animal Origin ◽  
Colistin Resistance ◽  
E Coli ◽  
High Level ◽  
Farming Industry

Abstract Objectives The emergence of colistin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae from human and animal sources is one of the major public health concerns as colistin is the last-resort antibiotic for treating infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. We aimed to determine the prevalence of the prototype widespread colistin resistance genes (mcr-1 and mcr-2) among commensal and pathogenic Escherichia coli strains isolated from food-producing and companion animals in Iran. Results A total of 607 E. coli isolates which were previously collected from different animal sources between 2008 and 2016 used to uncover the possible presence of plasmid-mediated colistin resistance genes (mcr-1 and mcr-2) by PCR. Overall, our results could not confirm the presence of any mcr-1 or mcr-2 positive E. coli among the studied isolates. It is concluded that despite the important role of food-producing animals in transferring the antibiotic resistance, they were not the main source for carriage of mcr-1 and mcr-2 in Iran until 2016. This study suggests that the other mcr variants (mcr-3 to mcr-9) might be responsible for conferring colistin resistance in animal isolates in Iran. The possible linkage between pig farming industry and high level of mcr carriage in some countries needs to be clarified in future prospective studies.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document