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Jackson RT, Lunn TJ, DeAnglis IK, Ogola JG, Webala PW, Forbes KM. Frequent and intense human-bat interactions occur in buildings of rural Kenya. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0011988. [PMID: 38412171 PMCID: PMC10923417 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Simultaneous use of domestic spaces by humans and wildlife is little understood, despite global ubiquity, and can create an interface for human exposure to wildlife pathogens. Bats are a pervasive synanthropic taxon and are associated with several pathogens that can spill over and cause disease in humans. Urbanization has destroyed much natural bat habitat and, in response, many species increasingly use buildings as roosts. The purpose of this study was to characterize human interactions with bats in shared buildings to assess potential for human exposure to and spillover of bat-borne pathogens. We surveyed 102 people living and working in buildings used as bat roosts in Taita-Taveta county, Kenya between 2021 and 2023. We characterized and quantified the duration, intensity, and frequency of human-bat interactions occurring in this common domestic setting. Survey respondents reported living with bats in buildings year-round, with cohabitation occurring consistently for at least 10 years in 38% of cases. Human contact with bats occurred primarily through direct and indirect routes, including exposure to excrement (90% of respondents), and direct touching of bats (39% of respondents). Indirect contacts most often occurred daily, and direct contacts most often occurred yearly. Domestic animal consumption of bats was also reported (16% of respondents). We demonstrate that shared building use by bats and humans in rural Kenya leads to prolonged, frequent, and sometimes intense interactions between bats and humans, consistent with interfaces that can facilitate exposure to bat pathogens and subsequent spillover. Identifying and understanding the settings and practices that may lead to zoonotic pathogen spillover is of great global importance for developing countermeasures, and this study establishes bat roosts in buildings as such a setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reilly T. Jackson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States of America
| | - Tamika J. Lunn
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Isabella K. DeAnglis
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States of America
| | - Joseph G. Ogola
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Paul W. Webala
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Maasai Mara University, Narok, Kenya
| | - Kristian M. Forbes
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States of America
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2
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Ahmad F, Javed K, Tahir A, Khan MUG, Abbas M, Rabbani M, Shabbir MZ. Identifying key soil characteristics for Francisella tularensis classification with optimized Machine learning models. Sci Rep 2024; 14:1743. [PMID: 38242908 PMCID: PMC10799052 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-51502-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Francisella tularensis (Ft) poses a significant threat to both animal and human populations, given its potential as a bioweapon. Current research on the classification of this pathogen and its relationship with soil physical-chemical characteristics often relies on traditional statistical methods. In this study, we leverage advanced machine learning models to enhance the prediction of epidemiological models for soil-based microbes. Our model employs a two-stage feature ranking process to identify crucial soil attributes and hyperparameter optimization for accurate pathogen classification using a unique soil attribute dataset. Optimization involves various classification algorithms, including Support Vector Machines (SVM), Ensemble Models (EM), and Neural Networks (NN), utilizing Bayesian and Random search techniques. Results indicate the significance of soil features such as clay, nitrogen, soluble salts, silt, organic matter, and zinc , while identifying the least significant ones as potassium, calcium, copper, sodium, iron, and phosphorus. Bayesian optimization yields the best results, achieving an accuracy of 86.5% for SVM, 81.8% for EM, and 83.8% for NN. Notably, SVM emerges as the top-performing classifier, with an accuracy of 86.5% for both Bayesian and Random Search optimizations. The insights gained from employing machine learning techniques enhance our understanding of the environmental factors influencing Ft's persistence in soil. This, in turn, reduces the risk of false classifications, contributing to better pandemic control and mitigating socio-economic impacts on communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fareed Ahmad
- Department of Computer Science, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan.
- Quality Operations Laboratory, Institute of Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.
| | - Kashif Javed
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Ahsen Tahir
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan
| | | | - Mateen Abbas
- Quality Operations Laboratory, Institute of Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Masood Rabbani
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Zubair Shabbir
- Quality Operations Laboratory, Institute of Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
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3
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Fleischer R, Jones C, Ledezma-Campos P, Czirják GÁ, Sommer S, Gillespie TR, Vicente-Santos A. Gut microbial shifts in vampire bats linked to immunity due to changed diet in human disturbed landscapes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 907:167815. [PMID: 37852483 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic land-use change alters wildlife habitats and modifies species composition, diversity, and contacts among wildlife, livestock, and humans. Such human-modified ecosystems have been associated with emerging infectious diseases, threatening human and animal health. However, human disturbance also creates new resources that some species can exploit. Common vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus) in Latin America constitute an important example, as their adaptation to human-modified habitats and livestock blood-feeding has implications for e.g., rabies transmission. Despite the well-known links between habitat degradation and disease emergence, few studies have explored how human-induced disturbance influences wildlife behavioural ecology and health, which can alter disease dynamics. To evaluate links among habitat disturbance, diet shifts, gut microbiota, and immunity, we quantified disturbance around roosting caves of common vampire bats in Costa Rica, measured their long-term diet preferences (livestock or wildlife blood) using stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen, evaluated innate and adaptive immune markers, and characterized their gut microbiota. We observed that bats from roosting caves with more cattle farming nearby fed more on cattle blood. Moreover, gut microbial richness and the abundance of specific gut microbes differed according to feeding preferences. Interestingly, bats feeding primarily on wildlife blood harboured a higher abundance of the bacteria Edwardsiella sp., which tended to be associated with higher immunoglobulin G levels. Our results highlight how human land-use change may indirectly affect wildlife health and emerging infectious diseases through diet-induced shifts in microbiota, with implications for host immunity and potential consequences for susceptibility to pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramona Fleischer
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
| | - Christie Jones
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Gábor Á Czirják
- Department of Wildlife Diseases, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Simone Sommer
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Thomas R Gillespie
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Program in Population Biology, Ecology, and Evolution, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Amanda Vicente-Santos
- Program in Population Biology, Ecology, and Evolution, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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de Lima JS, Mori E, Kmetiuk LB, Biondo LM, Brandão PE, Biondo AW, Maiorka PC. Cat rabies in Brazil: a growing One Health concern. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1210203. [PMID: 37538269 PMCID: PMC10394693 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1210203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
This review of human and cat rabies from 1986 to 2022 has shown mostly AgV3 variant in human cases with 29/45 (64.4%) reports including 23 from bats, four from cats, and two from unknown species, followed by 8/45 (17.8%) of AgV2 variant (all from dogs), 4/45 from marmoset variant (all from Callithrix jacchus), 2/45 samples compatible with wild canid variant (both from Cerdocyon thous), and one/45 of AgV1 variant from a domestic dog. Only one sample of human rabies was not typified, related to bat aggression. In addition, surveillance conducted in the state of São Paulo confirmed the presence of rabies in 7/23,839 cats (0.031%) and 3/106,637 dogs (0.003%) between 2003 and 2013, with a 10:1 overall cat-to-dog positivity ratio. This 10-fold higher infection rate for cat rabies may be explained by cats' hunting habits and predation. In addition, after 28 years of rabies-free status, a new cat rabies case was reported in the city of São Paulo in 2011. The rabid cat lived, along with other pets, in a household located near the largest downtown city park, whose owners presented animal hoarding behavior. Thus, animal hoarders and rescuers, public health agents, animal health professionals, and the general population with contact need to be aware of the risk of bat-borne rabies followed by spillover from cats to humans. In conclusion, cat rabies cases are becoming increasingly important in Brazil. This poses a One Health concern, given the overlapping of human, bat and cat populations within the same predisposed environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Santos de Lima
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Enio Mori
- Pasteur Institute, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Louise Bach Kmetiuk
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Leandro Meneguelli Biondo
- National Institute of the Atlantic Forest (INMA), Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Santa Teresa, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - Paulo Eduardo Brandão
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Paulo César Maiorka
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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5
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Molecular Survey of Toxoplasma gondii in Wild Mammals of Southern Italy. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12030471. [PMID: 36986393 PMCID: PMC10051445 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12030471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Systematic wildlife surveillance is important to aid the prevention of zoonotic infections that jeopardize human health and undermine biodiversity. Toxoplasma gondii is an opportunistic zoonotic protozoan that can infect all endothermic vertebrates, causing severe disease in immunocompromised humans and cases of congenital transmission. Humans can be infected by ingestion of raw meat containing bradyzoites or water contaminated by oocysts. In our study, we assessed the potential circulation of Toxoplasma gondii in wild mammals by performing surveillance in the Campania region (southern Italy) and surveyed its presence from 2020 to 2022 within the framework of the Regional Plans for Wildlife Surveillance. In detail, 211 individuals belonging to five wild mammals (wolf, fox, wild boar, badger, and roe deer) underwent necropsy and the organs were analyzed by real-time PCR for the detection of the parasite. Toxoplasma gondii was found in 21.8% (46/211) of the subjects examined. No statistically significant differences were noticed between the prevalence and the host’s trophic level or age, rejecting the hypotheses that Toxoplasma gondii will have a higher prevalence in top predators and adult individuals, respectively. Our work emphasized the high circulation of Toxoplasma gondii in wildlife and remarked on the critical role of anthropized areas where domestic cats and wildlife may come into contact, urging a systematic surveillance.
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Two phase feature-ranking for new soil dataset for Coxiella burnetii persistence and classification using machine learning models. Sci Rep 2023; 13:29. [PMID: 36593267 PMCID: PMC9807593 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-26956-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Coxiella burnetii (Cb) is a hardy, stealth bacterial pathogen lethal for humans and animals. Its tremendous resistance to the environment, ease of propagation, and incredibly low infectious dosage make it an attractive organism for biowarfare. Current research on the classification of Coxiella and features influencing its presence in the soil is generally confined to statistical techniques. Machine learning other than traditional approaches can help us better predict epidemiological modeling for this soil-based pathogen of public significance. We developed a two-phase feature-ranking technique for the pathogen on a new soil feature dataset. The feature ranking applies methods such as ReliefF (RLF), OneR (ONR), and correlation (CR) for the first phase and a combination of techniques utilizing weighted scores to determine the final soil attribute ranks in the second phase. Different classification methods such as Support Vector Machine (SVM), Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), Logistic Regression (LR), and Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) have been utilized for the classification of soil attribute dataset for Coxiella positive and negative soils. The feature-ranking methods established that potassium, chromium, cadmium, nitrogen, organic matter, and soluble salts are the most significant attributes. At the same time, manganese, clay, phosphorous, copper, and lead are the least contributing soil features for the prevalence of the bacteria. However, potassium is the most influential feature, and manganese is the least significant soil feature. The attribute ranking using RLF generates the most promising results among the ranking methods by generating an accuracy of 80.85% for MLP, 79.79% for LR, and 79.8% for LDA. Overall, SVM and MLP are the best-performing classifiers, where SVM yields an accuracy of 82.98% and 81.91% for attribute ranking by CR and RLF; and MLP generates an accuracy of 76.60% for ONR. Thus, machine models can help us better understand the environment, assisting in the prevalence of bacteria and decreasing the chances of false classification. Subsequently, this can assist in controlling epidemics and alleviating the devastating effect on the socio-economics of society.
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7
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Parasitism in heterogeneous landscapes: association between conserved habitats and gastrointestinal parasites in populations of wild mammals. Acta Trop 2022; 237:106751. [DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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8
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Kazemi S, López-Muñoz AD, Hollý J, Jin L, Yewdell JW, Dolan BP. Variations in Cell Surface ACE2 Levels Alter Direct Binding of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein and Viral Infectivity: Implications for Measuring Spike Protein Interactions with Animal ACE2 Orthologs. J Virol 2022; 96:e0025622. [PMID: 36000847 PMCID: PMC9472623 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00256-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the most severe pandemic in a century. The virus gains access to host cells when the viral spike protein (S-protein) binds to the host cell surface receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Studies have attempted to understand SARS-CoV-2 S-protein interactions with vertebrate orthologs of ACE2 by expressing ACE2 orthologs in mammalian cells and measuring viral infection or S-protein binding. Often, these cells only transiently express ACE2 proteins, and the levels of ACE2 at the cell surface are not quantified. Here, we describe a cell-based assay that uses stably transfected cells expressing ACE2 proteins in a bicistronic vector with an easy-to-quantify reporter protein, Thy1.1. We found that both the binding of the S-protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) and infection with a SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus are proportional to the amount of human ACE2 expressed at the cell surface, which can be inferred by quantifying the level of Thy1.1. We also compared different ACE2 orthologs, which were expressed in stably transfected cells expressing equivalent levels of Thy1.1. When ranked for either viral infectivity or RBD binding, mouse ACE2 had a weak to undetectable affinity for S-protein, while human ACE2 had the highest level detected, and feline ACE2 had an intermediate phenotype. The generation of stably transfected cells whose ACE2 level can be normalized for cross-ortholog comparisons allows us to create a reusable cellular library useful for measuring emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants' abilities to potentially infect different animals. IMPORTANCE SARS-CoV-2 is a zoonotic virus responsible for the worst global pandemic in a century. An understanding of how the virus can infect other vertebrate species is important for controlling viral spread and understanding the natural history of the virus. Here, we describe a method to generate cells stably expressing different orthologs of ACE2, the receptor for SARS-CoV-2, on the surface of a human cell line. We find that both the binding of the viral spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) and infection of cells with a SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus are proportional to the ACE2 levels at the cell surface. This method will allow the creation of a library of stably transfected cells expressing similar levels of different vertebrate ACE2 orthologs, which can be used repeatedly for identifying vertebrate species that may be susceptible to infection with SARS-CoV-2 and its many variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soheila Kazemi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Alberto Domingo López-Muñoz
- Laboratory of Viral Diseases, Cell Biology Section, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jaroslav Hollý
- Laboratory of Viral Diseases, Cell Biology Section, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Ling Jin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Jonathan W. Yewdell
- Laboratory of Viral Diseases, Cell Biology Section, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Brian P. Dolan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
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9
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Dakroub H, Russo D, Cistrone L, Serra F, Fusco G, De Carlo E, Amoroso MG. A First Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 Circulation in Bats of Central-Southern Italy. Pathogens 2022; 11:742. [PMID: 35889988 PMCID: PMC9319265 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11070742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
One serious concern associated with the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is that the virus might spill back from humans to wildlife, which would render some animal species reservoirs of the human virus. We assessed the potential circulation of SARS-CoV-2 caused by reverse infection from humans to bats, by performing bat surveillance from different sites in Central-Southern Italy. We restricted our survey to sampling techniques that are minimally invasive and can therefore be broadly applied by non-medical operators such as bat workers. We collected 240 droppings or saliva from 129 bats and tested them using specific and general primers for SARS-CoV-2 and coronaviruses, respectively. All samples (127 nasal swabs and 113 faecal droppings) were negative for SARS-CoV-2, and these results were confirmed by testing the samples with the Droplet Digital PCR. Additionally, pancoronavirus end-point RT-PCR was performed, and no sample showed specific bands. This outcome is a first step towards a better understanding of the reverse transmission of this virus to bats. Although the occurrence of a reverse zoonotic pattern can only be fully established by serological testing, the latter might represent an in-depth follow-up to a broad-scale preliminary assessment performed with our approach. We encourage the systematic surveillance of bats to help prevent reverse zoonotic episodes that would jeopardize human health, as well as biodiversity conservation and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiba Dakroub
- Wildlife Research Unit, Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Università, 100, 80055 Portici, Italy; (H.D.); (D.R.)
- Department of Animal Health, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Via Salute,2, 80055 Portici, Italy; (F.S.); (G.F.); (E.D.C.)
| | - Danilo Russo
- Wildlife Research Unit, Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Università, 100, 80055 Portici, Italy; (H.D.); (D.R.)
| | - Luca Cistrone
- Forestry and Conservation, Via Botticelli, 14, 03043 Cassino, Italy;
| | - Francesco Serra
- Department of Animal Health, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Via Salute,2, 80055 Portici, Italy; (F.S.); (G.F.); (E.D.C.)
| | - Giovanna Fusco
- Department of Animal Health, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Via Salute,2, 80055 Portici, Italy; (F.S.); (G.F.); (E.D.C.)
| | - Esterina De Carlo
- Department of Animal Health, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Via Salute,2, 80055 Portici, Italy; (F.S.); (G.F.); (E.D.C.)
| | - Maria Grazia Amoroso
- Department of Animal Health, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Via Salute,2, 80055 Portici, Italy; (F.S.); (G.F.); (E.D.C.)
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Soupé-Gilbert ME, Oedin M, Kainiu M, Girault D, Figuet O, Brescia F, Goarant C. Original Leptospira spp. in island native terrestrial mammals: a case study in Pteropus spp. bats of New Caledonia. Transbound Emerg Dis 2022; 69:e2852-e2862. [PMID: 35730517 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a bacterial zoonosis that occurs in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Chiroptera are known to be a formidable reservoir of zoonotic pathogens, including leptospires. The epidemiology of leptospirosis in bats in the Pacific Islands is poorly known, both in terms of prevalence and in terms of the bacterial strains involved. A strong host specificity between leptospiral strains and their mammalian reservoir is recognized. This phenomenon has notably been studied recently in bat communities, providing strong evidence of coevolution. In New Caledonia, a biodiversity hotspot where leptospirosis is endemic and enzootic, Chiroptera are the only indigenous terrestrial mammals. In this study, we aimed to investigate leptospires associated with three flying fox species in New Caledonia. Kidneys and urine samples of Pteropus spp. from captures and seizures were analyzed. Among 254 flying foxes analyzed, 24 harboured pathogenic leptospires corresponding to an observed prevalence of 9.45% with 15.8% on the Main Island and 4.3% on Loyalty Islands. The analysis of the rrs gene, lfb1, MLST sequences evidenced 4 distinct clusters of undescribed strains, likely corresponding to undescribed species. All four strains belong to the Group I of pathogenic Leptospira spp., which includes Leptospira interrogans, Leptospira noguchii and Leptospira kirschneri. We detected pathogenic leptospires in all 3 Pteropus spp. studied (including 2 endemic species) with no evidence of host specificity in two co-roosting species. For a better understanding of Leptospira-host coevolution, notably to genetically characterize and evaluate the virulence of these original bat-associated leptospires, it is essential to improve isolation techniques. Flying foxes are traditionally hunted and eaten in New Caledonia, a massive cause of bat-human interactions. Our results should encourage vigilance during these contacts to limit the spillover risk of these pathogens to humans. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Malik Oedin
- Institut Agronomique Néo-Calédonien (IAC), Equipe ARBOREAL (AgricultuRe BiOdiveRsité Et vALorisation) BP
| | - Malia Kainiu
- Institut Pasteur in New Caledonia, Leptospirosis Research and Expertise Unit
| | - Dominique Girault
- Institut Pasteur in New Caledonia, Leptospirosis Research and Expertise Unit
| | - Orane Figuet
- Institut Pasteur in New Caledonia, Leptospirosis Research and Expertise Unit
| | - Fabrice Brescia
- Institut Agronomique Néo-Calédonien (IAC), Equipe ARBOREAL (AgricultuRe BiOdiveRsité Et vALorisation) BP
| | - Cyrille Goarant
- Institut Pasteur in New Caledonia, Leptospirosis Research and Expertise Unit
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11
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Wilson AG, Fehlner-Gardiner C, Wilson S, Pierce KN, McGregor GF, González C, Luszcz TMJ. Assessing the extent and public health impact of bat predation by domestic animals using data from a rabies passive surveillance program. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 2:e0000357. [PMID: 36962180 PMCID: PMC10021327 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Domestic animals can serve as consequential conveyors of zoonotic pathogens across wildlife-human interfaces. Still, there has been little study on how different domestic species and their behaviors influence the zoonotic risk to humans. In this study, we examined patterns of bat encounters with domestic animals that resulted in submission for testing at the rabies laboratories of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) during 2014-2020. Our goals were specifically to examine how the number of bats submitted and the number of rabies positive bats varied by the type of domestic animal exposure and whether domestic cats were indoor or free-roaming. The CFIA reported 6258 bat submissions for rabies testing, of which 41.5% and 8.7% had encounter histories with cats and dogs, respectively. A much smaller fraction of bat submissions (0.3%) had exposure to other domestic animals, and 49.5% had no domestic animal exposure. For the bat submissions related to cats, and where lifestyle was noted, 91.1% were associated with free-roaming cats and 8.9% with indoor cats. Model results indicated the probability of a rabies-positive bat was the highest with a history of dog association (20.2%), followed by bats with no animal exposure (16.7%), free-roaming cats (6.9%), cats with unspecified histories (6.0%) and the lowest probability associated with non-free-roaming (indoor) cats (3.8%). Although there was lower rabies prevalence in bats associated with cats compared to dogs, the 4.8 fold higher number of cat-bat interactions cumulatively leads to a greater overall rabies exposure risk to humans from any free-roaming outdoor cats. This study suggests that free-roaming owned cats may have an underappreciated role in cryptic rabies exposures in humans and as a significant predator of bats. Preventing free-roaming in cats is a cost-effective and underutilized public health recommendation for rabies prevention that also synergistically reduces the health burden of other feline-associated zoonotic diseases and promotes feline welfare and wildlife conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy G Wilson
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Christine Fehlner-Gardiner
- Centre of Expertise for Rabies, Ottawa Laboratory Fallowfield, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Scott Wilson
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Wildlife Research Division, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Karra N Pierce
- Wildlife Center of Virginia, Waynesboro, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Glenna F McGregor
- Animal Health Centre, British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Catalina González
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Tanya M J Luszcz
- Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Penticton, British Columbia, Canada
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12
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Le Guernic A, Palos Ladeiro M, Boudaud N, Do Nascimento J, Gantzer C, Inglard JC, Mouchel JM, Pochet C, Moulin L, Rocher V, Waldman P, Wurtzer S, Geffard A. First evidence of SARS-CoV-2 genome detection in zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha). JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 301:113866. [PMID: 34624574 PMCID: PMC9467573 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The uses of bivalve molluscs in environmental biomonitoring have recently gained momentum due to their ability to indicate and concentrate human pathogenic microorganisms. In the context of the health crisis caused by the COVID-19 epidemic, the objective of this study was to determine if the SARS-CoV-2 ribonucleic acid genome can be detected in zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) exposed to raw and treated urban wastewaters from two separate plants to support its interest as bioindicator of the SARS-CoV-2 genome contamination in water. The zebra mussels were exposed to treated wastewater through caging at the outlet of two plants located in France, as well as to raw wastewater in controlled conditions. Within their digestive tissues, our results showed that SARS-CoV-2 genome was detected in zebra mussels, whether in raw and treated wastewaters. Moreover, the detection of the SARS-CoV-2 genome in such bivalve molluscans appeared even with low concentrations in raw wastewaters. This is the first detection of the SARS-CoV-2 genome in the tissues of a sentinel species exposed to raw and treated urban wastewaters. Despite the need for development for quantitative approaches, these results support the importance of such invertebrate organisms, especially zebra mussel, for the active surveillance of pathogenic microorganisms and their indicators in environmental waters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Le Guernic
- Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, UMR-I02 SEBIO, Moulin de la Housse, BP1039, 51687, Reims, France.
| | - Mélissa Palos Ladeiro
- Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, UMR-I02 SEBIO, Moulin de la Housse, BP1039, 51687, Reims, France
| | | | - Julie Do Nascimento
- Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, UMR-I02 SEBIO, Moulin de la Housse, BP1039, 51687, Reims, France
| | - Christophe Gantzer
- Université de Lorraine, LCPME, Laboratoire de Chimie Physique et Microbiologie pour l'Environnement, UMR 7564, Institut Jean Barriol, Faculté des Sciences et Technologies, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, F-54506, France
| | - Jean-Christophe Inglard
- Grand Reims Communauté Urbaine, Direction de l'eau et de l'assainissement, CS 80036, 51722, Reims, Cedex, France
| | - Jean-Marie Mouchel
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, EPHE, UMR 7619 Metis, E-LTER Zone Atelier Seine, Paris, F-75005, France
| | - Cécile Pochet
- Grand Reims Communauté Urbaine, Direction de l'eau et de l'assainissement, CS 80036, 51722, Reims, Cedex, France
| | - Laurent Moulin
- Eau de Paris. Direction de la Recherche, du Développement et de la Qualité de l'Eau, 94200, Ivry-sur-Seine, France
| | - Vincent Rocher
- Syndicat Interdépartemental pour l'Assainissement de l'Agglomération Parisienne (SIAAP), Direction de l'Innovation, 82 avenue Kléber, Colombes, 92700, France
| | - Prunelle Waldman
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, EPHE, UMR 7619 Metis, E-LTER Zone Atelier Seine, Paris, F-75005, France
| | - Sébastien Wurtzer
- Eau de Paris. Direction de la Recherche, du Développement et de la Qualité de l'Eau, 94200, Ivry-sur-Seine, France
| | - Alain Geffard
- Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, UMR-I02 SEBIO, Moulin de la Housse, BP1039, 51687, Reims, France
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13
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Luo B, Xu R, Li Y, Zhou W, Wang W, Gao H, Wang Z, Deng Y, Liu Y, Feng J. Artificial light reduces foraging opportunities in wild least horseshoe bats. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 288:117765. [PMID: 34265558 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Artificial light at night has been proposed as a global threat to biodiversity. Insectivorous bats are strictly nocturnal animals that are vulnerable to disruption from artificial light. Given that many light-sensitive bats tend to avoid night light during roost departure, it is often assumed that nighttime light pollution reduces their foraging opportunities, albeit empirical evidence in support of this hypothesis remains elusive. Here, we used least horseshoe bats, Rhinolophus pusillus, to assess whether white artificial light is detrimental for the opportunities of foraging. We manipulated the levels of ambient illumination and perceived predation risk inside the bat roost. We monitored bats' emergence activity using high-speed video and audio recording systems. DNA-based faecal dietary analysis and insect survey were applied to determine activity time of prey in foraging areas. Following experimentally manipulation of white light-emitting diode (LED) lighting 0-15 min after sunset, bat pass, flight duration, and echolocation pulse emission decreased. The mean emergence time of bats flying out was delayed by 14 min under lit treatment compared with the dark control. Only 10% of bats left for foraging during 40 min of light exposure. Aversive effects of LED light on bat emergence were robust regardless of the presence of a potential predator. Insect prey reached a peak of abundance between 30 and 60 min after sunset. These results demonstrate that white artificial light hinders evening emergence behavior in least horseshoe bats, leading to a mismatch between foraging onset and peak food availability. Our findings highlight that light pollution overrides foraging onset, suggesting the importance of improving artificial lighting scheme near the roosts of light-sensitive bats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Luo
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, 2555 Jingyue Street, Changchun, 130117, China; Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation of Ministry of Education, China West Normal University, 1# Shida Road, Nanchong, 637009, China
| | - Rong Xu
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation of Ministry of Education, China West Normal University, 1# Shida Road, Nanchong, 637009, China
| | - Yunchun Li
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation of Ministry of Education, China West Normal University, 1# Shida Road, Nanchong, 637009, China
| | - Wenyu Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation of Ministry of Education, China West Normal University, 1# Shida Road, Nanchong, 637009, China
| | - Weiwei Wang
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, 2555 Jingyue Street, Changchun, 130117, China; Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation of Ministry of Education, China West Normal University, 1# Shida Road, Nanchong, 637009, China
| | - Huimin Gao
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, 2555 Jingyue Street, Changchun, 130117, China; Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation of Ministry of Education, China West Normal University, 1# Shida Road, Nanchong, 637009, China
| | - Zhen Wang
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation of Ministry of Education, China West Normal University, 1# Shida Road, Nanchong, 637009, China
| | - Yingchun Deng
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation of Ministry of Education, China West Normal University, 1# Shida Road, Nanchong, 637009, China
| | - Ying Liu
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, 2555 Jingyue Street, Changchun, 130117, China
| | - Jiang Feng
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, 2555 Jingyue Street, Changchun, 130117, China; College of Life Science, Jilin Agricultural University, 2888 Xincheng Street, Changchun, 130118, China.
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14
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Kazemi S, López-Muñoz AD, Hollý J, Jin L, Yewdell JW, Dolan BP. Variations in cell-surface ACE2 levels alter direct binding of SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein and viral infectivity: Implications for measuring Spike protein interactions with animal ACE2 orthologs. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2021:2021.10.21.465386. [PMID: 34729559 PMCID: PMC8562541 DOI: 10.1101/2021.10.21.465386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of COVID-19, the most severe pandemic in a century. The virus gains access to host cells when the viral Spike protein (S-protein) binds to the host cell-surface receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Studies have attempted to understand SARS-CoV-2 S-protein interaction with vertebrate orthologs of ACE2 by expressing ACE2 orthologs in mammalian cells and measuring viral infection or S-protein binding. Often these cells only transiently express ACE2 proteins and levels of ACE2 at the cell surface are not quantified. Here, we describe a cell-based assay that uses stably transfected cells expressing ACE2 proteins in a bi-cistronic vector with an easy to quantify reporter protein to normalize ACE2 expression. We found that both binding of the S-protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) and infection with a SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus is proportional to the amount of human ACE2 expressed at the cell surface, which can be inferred by quantifying the level of reporter protein, Thy1.1. We also compared different ACE2 orthologs which were expressed in stably transfected cells expressing equivalent levels of Thy1.1. When ranked for either viral infectivity or RBD binding, mouse ACE2 had a weak to undetectable affinity for S-protein while human ACE2 was the highest level detected and feline ACE2 had an intermediate phenotype. The generation of stably transfected cells whose ACE2 level can be normalized for cross-ortholog comparisons allows us to create a reusable cellular library useful for measuring emerging SARS-CoV-2 variant's ability to potentially infect different animals. IMPORTANCE SARS-CoV-2 is a zoonotic virus responsible for the worst global pandemic in a century. An understanding of how the virus can infect other vertebrate species is important for controlling viral spread and understanding the natural history of the virus. Here we describe a method to generate cells stably expressing equivalent levels of different ACE2 orthologs, the receptor for SARS-CoV-2, on the surface of a human cell line. We find that both binding of the viral Spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD) and infection of cells with a SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus are proportional to ACE2 levels at the cell surface. Adaptation of this method will allow for the creation of a library of stable transfected cells expressing equivalent levels of different vertebrate ACE2 orthologs which can be repeatedly used for identifying vertebrate species which may be susceptible to infection with SARS-CoV-2 and its many variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soheila Kazemi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, OR. USA
| | - Alberto Domingo López-Muñoz
- Laboratory of Viral Diseases, Cell Biology Section, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda MD. USA
| | - Jaroslav Hollý
- Laboratory of Viral Diseases, Cell Biology Section, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda MD. USA
| | - Ling Jin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, OR. USA
| | - Jonathan W Yewdell
- Laboratory of Viral Diseases, Cell Biology Section, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda MD. USA
| | - Brian P Dolan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, OR. USA
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15
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Gow EA, Burant JB, Sutton AO, Freeman NE, Grahame ERM, Fuirst M, Sorensen MC, Knight SM, Clyde HE, Quarrell NJ, Wilcox AAE, Chicalo R, Van Drunen SG, Shiffman DS. Popular press portrayal of issues surrounding free‐roaming domestic cats
Felis catus. PEOPLE AND NATURE 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A. Gow
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Guelph Guelph ON Canada
| | - Joseph B. Burant
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Guelph Guelph ON Canada
| | - Alex O. Sutton
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Guelph Guelph ON Canada
| | - Nikole E. Freeman
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Guelph Guelph ON Canada
| | | | - Matthew Fuirst
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Guelph Guelph ON Canada
| | | | - Samantha M. Knight
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Guelph Guelph ON Canada
- Nature Conservancy of Canada Toronto ON Canada
| | - Hannah E. Clyde
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Guelph Guelph ON Canada
| | | | | | - Roxan Chicalo
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Guelph Guelph ON Canada
| | | | - David S. Shiffman
- Arizona State University New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences Glendale AZ USA
- Arizona State University DC Center Washington DC USA
- David Shiffman Scientific and Environmental Consulting, INC Silver Spring MD USA
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16
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Sharun K, Saied AA, Tiwari R, Dhama K. SARS-CoV-2 infection in domestic and feral cats: current evidence and implications. Vet Q 2021; 41:228-231. [PMID: 34319851 PMCID: PMC8381979 DOI: 10.1080/01652176.2021.1962576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Current evidence indicates that cats play a limited role in COVID-19 epidemiology, and pets are probably dead-end hosts of SARS-CoV-2 and pose negligible risks of transmission to humans. Still, one health concept is to be adopted widely as a component of mitigation strategies to tackle the ongoing pandemic. Therefore, in terms of the magnitude of infection and potential to transmit SARS-CoV-2 to humans, our surveillance efforts should mainly focus on mustelids (especially minks, ferrets, and others) for early detection and control of infection. This will ensure that SARS-CoV-2 will not get established in the wild animal population of these susceptible species. We agree with Dr. Passarella Teixeira on the possibility of domestic and feral cats acting as an urban reservoir, subsequently transmitting the virus to human beings. However, it is less likely that such a phenomenon will be reported even if it has occurred due to the efficient and extensive human-to-human transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khan Sharun
- Division of Surgery, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, India
| | - AbdulRahman A Saied
- Department of Food Establishments Licensing (Aswan Branch), National Food Safety Authority (NFSA), Aswan, Egypt.,Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Touristic Activities and Interior Offices Sector (Aswan Office), Aswan, Egypt
| | - Ruchi Tiwari
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Sciences, UP Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhayay Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalay Evum Go-Anusandhan Sansthan (DUVASU), Mathura, India
| | - Kuldeep Dhama
- Division of Pathology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, India
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17
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Cerri J, Mori E, Ancillotto L, Russo D, Bertolino S. COVID-19, media coverage of bats and related Web searches: a turning point for bat conservation? Mamm Rev 2021; 52:16-25. [PMID: 34548738 PMCID: PMC8447447 DOI: 10.1111/mam.12261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
SARS‐CoV‐2, the virus that caused the COVID‐19 pandemic, is genomically similar to a SARS‐like beta‐coronavirus found in Asian rhinolophid bats. This evolutionary relationship impressed the global media, which then emphasised bats as key actors in the spillover that resulted in the pandemic. In this study, we highlight changes in the traditional and new media coverage of bats and in Internet search volumes that occurred since the beginning of the COVID‐19 pandemic in 2020. We analysed Google and Wikipedia searches for bats and coronaviruses in 21 countries and eight languages, as well as television broadcasts in the USA, some of which have global coverage, between January 2016 and December 2020. In January 2020, the amount of television news about bats boomed, and news associated with the term ‘bat’ shifted to COVID‐19‐related topics. A nearly identical pattern was observed in Google searches during 2020 at the global scale. The daily time series of television coverage and Internet search volumes on bats and coronavirus in the USA covaried in the first quarter of 2020, in line with the existence of a media bubble. Time‐series analysis revealed that both the Google Trends index and visits to Wikipedia pages about bats boomed in early 2020, despite the fact that this time of year is usually characterised by low search volumes. Media coverage emphasised, correctly or not, the role of bats in the COVID‐19 pandemic and amplified public interest in bats worldwide. The public image of these mammals, in many cases threatened and important ecosystem service providers, was seriously compromised. We therefore recommend that policymakers and journalists prioritise scientifically accurate communication campaigns about bats, which would help counteract the surge in bat persecution, and leverage interest towards positive human–bat interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacopo Cerri
- Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies University of Primorska Glagoljaška 8 6000 Koper Slovenia
| | - Emiliano Mori
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche Istituto di Ricerca sugli Ecosistemi Terrestri Via Madonna del Piano 10 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (Florence) Italy
| | - Leonardo Ancillotto
- Wildlife Research Unit Dipartimento di Agraria Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II Via Università, 100 80055 Portici NA Italy
| | - Danilo Russo
- Wildlife Research Unit Dipartimento di Agraria Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II Via Università, 100 80055 Portici NA Italy
| | - Sandro Bertolino
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e Biologia dei Sistemi Università degli Studi di Torino Via Accademia Albertina 13 10123 Torino Italy
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