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Barghash SM, Yassin SE, Sadek ASM, Mahmoud DM, Salama MS. Epidemiological exploration of fleas and molecular identification of flea-borne viruses in Egyptian small ruminants. Sci Rep 2024; 14:15166. [PMID: 38956077 PMCID: PMC11220049 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64881-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The study aimed to investigate molecularly the presence of flea-borne viruses in infested small ruminants with fleas. It was carried out in Egypt's Northern West Coast (NWC) and South Sinai Governorate (SSG). Three specific primers were used targeting genes, ORF103 (for Capripoxvirus and Lumpy skin disease virus), NS3 (for Bluetongue virus), and Rdrp (for Coronavirus), followed by gene sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. The results revealed that 78.94% of sheep and 65.63% of goats were infested in the NWC area, whereas 49.76% of sheep and 77.8% of goats were infested in the SSG region. Sheep were preferable hosts for flea infestations (58.9%) to goats (41.1%) in the two studied areas. Sex and age of the animals had no effects on the infestation rate (p > 0.05). The season and site of infestation on animals were significantly different between the two areas (p < 0.05). Ctenocephalides felis predominated in NWC and Ctenocephalides canis in SSG, and males of both flea species were more prevalent than females. Molecular analysis of flea DNA revealed the presence of Capripoxvirus in all tested samples, while other viral infections were absent. Gene sequencing identified three isolates as sheeppox viruses, and one as goatpox virus. The findings suggest that Capripoxvirus is adapted to fleas and may be transmitted to animals through infestation. This underscores the need for ongoing surveillance of other pathogens in different regions of Egypt.
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Affiliation(s)
- Safaa M Barghash
- Parasitology Unit, Animal Production and Poultry Division, Animal and Poultry Health Department, Desert Research Center, El-Naam, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Samah E Yassin
- Parasitology Unit, Animal Production and Poultry Division, Animal and Poultry Health Department, Desert Research Center, El-Naam, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Al-Shaimaa M Sadek
- Zoology and Entomology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Dalia M Mahmoud
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mohamed S Salama
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
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Asghar A, Imran HM, Bano N, Maalik S, Mushtaq S, Hussain A, Varjani S, Aleya L, Iqbal HMN, Bilal M. SARS-COV-2/COVID-19: scenario, epidemiology, adaptive mutations, and environmental factors. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:69117-69136. [PMID: 35947257 PMCID: PMC9363873 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-22333-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The coronavirus pandemic of 2019 has already exerted an enormous impact. For over a year, the worldwide pandemic has ravaged the whole globe, with approximately 250 million verified human infection cases and a mortality rate surpassing 4 million. While the genetic makeup of the related pathogen (SARS-CoV-2) was identified, many unknown facets remain a mystery, comprising the virus's origin and evolutionary trend. There were many rumors that SARS-CoV-2 was human-borne and its evolution was predicted many years ago, but scientific investigation proved them wrong and concluded that bats might be the origin of SARS-CoV-2 and pangolins act as intermediary species to transmit the virus from bats to humans. Airborne droplets were found to be the leading cause of human-to-human transmission of this virus, but later studies showed that contaminated surfaces and other environmental factors are also involved in its transmission. The evolution of different SARS-CoV-2 variants worsens the condition and has become a challenge to overcome this pandemic. The emergence of COVID-19 is still a mystery, and scientists are unable to explain the exact origin of SARS-CoV-2. This review sheds light on the possible origin of SARS-CoV-2, its transmission, and the key factors that worsen the situation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asma Asghar
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan
| | - Hafiz Muhammad Imran
- Department of Biochemistry, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan
| | - Naheed Bano
- Department of Fisheries & Aquaculture, MNS-University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan
| | - Sadia Maalik
- Department of Zoology, Government College Women University, Sialkot, Pakistan
| | - Sajida Mushtaq
- Department of Zoology, Government College Women University, Sialkot, Pakistan
| | - Asim Hussain
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan
| | - Sunita Varjani
- Gujarat Pollution Control Board, Gandhinagar, 382 010, Gujarat, India
| | - Lotfi Aleya
- Chrono-Environment Laboratory, UMR CNRS 6249, Bourgogne Franche-Comté University, Besançon, France
| | - Hafiz M N Iqbal
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, 64849, Monterrey, Mexico
| | - Muhammad Bilal
- School of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huai'an, 223003, China.
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SARS-CoV-2 Transmission by Arthropod Vectors: A Scoping Review. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 2022:4329423. [PMID: 35978635 PMCID: PMC9377902 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4329423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
COVID-19 is a respiratory disease of worldwide importance as it has brought enormous health problems to the world's population. The best-known way of transmission of the virus is through aerosolization. However, research is needed to explore other transmission routes. Researchers hypothesized that arthropods could transmit SARs-CoV-2. This study is aimed at reviewing research on arthropods as possible reservoirs and/or vectors of SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19. Following PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic review using several electronic databases/academic searches with the search terms “arthropods,” “coronavirus,” and “transmission.” A total of 64 unique articles were identified, of which 58 were included in the review. The SARS-CoV-2 virus is tiny and invisible to the naked eye, and its presence in stools, droplets, and surfaces was detected. One doubt is whether insects can transmit the virus from one place to another. Thus, a healthy carrier of the COVID-19 virus can be at the root of the contamination of their community or their family through the transport of the virus by insects from the interior (flies, cockroaches, etc.) from their feces and food surfaces. Hygiene care within communities and families becomes a prime factor. Coronavirus infection is a significant public health problem around the world. The prevention and control of outbreaks remain very important, even with the production of new vaccines. The main option to achieve this is the proper management of the transmission of the virus. The registry of infected people is currently the basis for the transmission of COVID-19. However, questions about the possibility of infection from other sources and its prevention are not receiving adequate attention. Numerous studies have shown the possibility that SARS-COV-2 fragments could have a longer life than shed respiratory droplets. Also, this virus is larger than those of other coronavirus families.
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Goraichuk IV, Arefiev V, Stegniy BT, Gerilovych AP. Zoonotic and Reverse Zoonotic Transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2. Virus Res 2021; 302:198473. [PMID: 34118360 PMCID: PMC8188804 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2021.198473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the first known pandemic caused by a coronavirus. Its causative agent, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), appears to be capable of infecting different mammalian species. Recent detections of this virus in pet, zoo, wild, and farm animals have compelled inquiry regarding the zoonotic (animal-to-human) and reverse zoonotic (human-to-animal) transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 with the potential of COVID-19 pandemic evolving into a panzootic. It is important to monitor the global spread of disease and to assess the significance of genomic changes to support prevention and control efforts during a pandemic. An understanding of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemiology provides opportunities to prevent the risk of repeated re-infection of humans and requires a robust One Health-based investigation. This review paper describes the known properties and the existing gaps in scientific knowledge about the zoonotic and reverse zoonotic transmissibility of the novel virus SARS-CoV-2 and the COVID-19 disease it causes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iryna V Goraichuk
- National Scientific Center "Institute of Experimental and Clinical Veterinary Medicine", 83 Pushkinska street, Kharkiv, 61023, Ukraine.
| | - Vasiliy Arefiev
- National Scientific Center "Institute of Experimental and Clinical Veterinary Medicine", 83 Pushkinska street, Kharkiv, 61023, Ukraine.
| | - Borys T Stegniy
- National Scientific Center "Institute of Experimental and Clinical Veterinary Medicine", 83 Pushkinska street, Kharkiv, 61023, Ukraine.
| | - Anton P Gerilovych
- National Scientific Center "Institute of Experimental and Clinical Veterinary Medicine", 83 Pushkinska street, Kharkiv, 61023, Ukraine.
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Lam SD, Ashford P, Díaz-Sánchez S, Villar M, Gortázar C, de la Fuente J, Orengo C. Arthropod Ectoparasites Have Potential to Bind SARS-CoV-2 via ACE. Viruses 2021; 13:v13040708. [PMID: 33921873 PMCID: PMC8073597 DOI: 10.3390/v13040708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus-like organisms have been previously identified in Arthropod ectoparasites (such as ticks and unfed cat flea). Yet, the question regarding the possible role of these arthropods as SARS-CoV-2 passive/biological transmission vectors is still poorly explored. In this study, we performed in silico structural and binding energy calculations to assess the risks associated with possible ectoparasite transmission. We found sufficient similarity between ectoparasite ACE and human ACE2 protein sequences to build good quality 3D-models of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike:ACE complex to assess the impacts of ectoparasite mutations on complex stability. For several species (e.g., water flea, deer tick, body louse), our analyses showed no significant destabilisation of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike:ACE complex, suggesting these species would bind the viral Spike protein. Our structural analyses also provide structural rationale for interactions between the viral Spike and the ectoparasite ACE proteins. Although we do not have experimental evidence of infection in these ectoparasites, the predicted stability of the complex suggests this is possible, raising concerns of a possible role in passive transmission of the virus to their human hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su Datt Lam
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, UCL, Darwin Building, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK;
- Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia
- Correspondence: (S.D.L.); (J.d.l.F.); (C.O.)
| | - Paul Ashford
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, UCL, Darwin Building, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK;
| | - Sandra Díaz-Sánchez
- SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain; (S.D.-S.); (M.V.); (C.G.)
| | - Margarita Villar
- SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain; (S.D.-S.); (M.V.); (C.G.)
- Regional Centre for Biomedical Research (CRIB), Biochemistry Section, Faculty of Science and Chemical Technologies, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Christian Gortázar
- SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain; (S.D.-S.); (M.V.); (C.G.)
| | - José de la Fuente
- SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain; (S.D.-S.); (M.V.); (C.G.)
- Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
- Correspondence: (S.D.L.); (J.d.l.F.); (C.O.)
| | - Christine Orengo
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, UCL, Darwin Building, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK;
- Correspondence: (S.D.L.); (J.d.l.F.); (C.O.)
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