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Interspecies Jumping of Bat Coronaviruses
Antonio C P Wong1, Susanna K P Lau1, Patrick C Y Woo1
1Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China.
Viruses
|November 27, 2021
Summary
Coronaviruses (CoVs) frequently jump from bats to other species, causing deadly epidemics like SARS and MERS. Monitoring these zoonotic events is crucial to prevent future pandemics.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Zoonotic Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Coronaviruses (CoVs) have demonstrated significant interspecies transmission potential, leading to severe human epidemics such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).
- Previous outbreaks highlight the role of bats as reservoirs for CoVs, with documented transmission events involving intermediate animal hosts like civets (for SARS) and dromedaries (for MERS).
- Genomic and epidemiological data indicate ongoing CoV evolution and spillover risks, underscoring the need for enhanced surveillance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the history and impact of coronavirus interspecies transmission events.
- To highlight the known and potential reservoirs and transmission routes of pathogenic CoVs.
- To emphasize the importance of monitoring and mitigating zoonotic CoV spillover risks.
Main Methods:
- Review of scientific literature on coronavirus outbreaks, including SARS, MERS, and the emergence of SARS-CoV-2.
- Analysis of genomic data to understand phylogenetic relationships between bat CoVs and human pathogens.
- Examination of epidemiological data to trace transmission pathways and identify animal reservoirs.
Main Results:
- Multiple CoV interspecies jumping events have occurred in the last two decades, resulting in significant epidemics and pandemics with high fatality rates.
- Bats have been identified as natural reservoirs for various CoVs, with evidence of bat-to-animal-to-human transmission for SARS.
- Despite genomic similarities, phylogenetic gaps persist for some bat CoVs in relation to MERS-CoV, and the precise origin of SARS-CoV-2 remains undetermined.
Conclusions:
- Coronavirus spillover events pose a substantial threat to public health, necessitating proactive surveillance and control strategies.
- Understanding CoV reservoirs and transmission dynamics is critical for predicting and preventing future zoonotic outbreaks.
- Mitigation efforts should focus on reducing the likelihood of natural interspecies CoV transmission and potential risks from laboratory research.
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