Soon after its appearance, SARS-CoV-2 was isolated from several animal hosts in many countries, and concerns about the possibility of virus transmission from humans to animals, and vice versa, rapidly emerged, undermining the changes in counteracting the spread of the pandemic. To date, SARS-CoV-2 has been detected in almost 20 different animal species belonging to ten families (Felidae, Viverridae, Hyaenidae, Canidae, Mustelidae, Procyonidae, Cervidae, Hippopotamidae, Hominidae, and Cricetidae) highlighting the role of animals as natural reservoirs/intermediate hosts for new adaptable viruses with increased virulence. It is therefore necessary to implement cooperation between human and animal health authorities for: (i) preventing viral transmission from humans to susceptible animals; (ii) monitoring susceptible animals; (iii) reporting cases of animal COVID-19; and (iv) shar- ing the genetic sequences of viruses isolated from infected animals with the global health community.
SARS-CoV-2 and Animals: From a Mirror Image to a Storm Warning
Francesco Pellegrini
;Ahmed Hassan Omar;Canio Buonavoglia;Annamaria Pratelli
2022-01-01
Abstract
Soon after its appearance, SARS-CoV-2 was isolated from several animal hosts in many countries, and concerns about the possibility of virus transmission from humans to animals, and vice versa, rapidly emerged, undermining the changes in counteracting the spread of the pandemic. To date, SARS-CoV-2 has been detected in almost 20 different animal species belonging to ten families (Felidae, Viverridae, Hyaenidae, Canidae, Mustelidae, Procyonidae, Cervidae, Hippopotamidae, Hominidae, and Cricetidae) highlighting the role of animals as natural reservoirs/intermediate hosts for new adaptable viruses with increased virulence. It is therefore necessary to implement cooperation between human and animal health authorities for: (i) preventing viral transmission from humans to susceptible animals; (ii) monitoring susceptible animals; (iii) reporting cases of animal COVID-19; and (iv) shar- ing the genetic sequences of viruses isolated from infected animals with the global health community.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
