Outbreaks of emerging coronaviruses in the past two decades and the current pandemic of a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that emerged in China highlight the importance of this viral family as a zoonotic public health threat. To gain a better understanding of coronavirus presence and diversity in wildlife at wildlife-human interfaces in three southern provinces in Viet Nam 2013-2014, we used consensus Polymerase Chain Reactions to detect coronavirus sequences. In comparison to previous studies, we observed high proportions of positive samples among field rats (34.0%, 239/702) destined for human consumption and insectivorous bats in guano farms (74.8%, 234/313) adjacent to human dwellings. Most notably among field rats, the odds of coronavirus RNA detection significantly increased along the supply chain from field rats sold by traders (reference group; 20.7% positivity, 39/188) by a factor of 2.2 for field rats sold in large markets (32.0%, 116/363) and 10.0 for field rats sold and served in restaurants (55.6%, 84/151). Coronaviruses were also detected in rodents on the majority of wildlife farms sampled (60.7%, 17/28). These coronaviruses were found in the Malayan porcupines (6.0%, 20/331) and bamboo rats (6.3%, 6/96) that are raised on wildlife farms for human consumption as food. We identified six known coronaviruses in
51Outbreaks of emerging coronaviruses in the past two decades and the current pandemic 52 of a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that emerged in China highlight the importance of this 53 viral family as a zoonotic public health threat. To gain a better understanding of coronavirus 54 presence and diversity in wildlife at wildlife-human interfaces in three southern provinces in Viet 55Nam 2013-2014, we used consensus Polymerase Chain Reactions to detect coronavirus 56 sequences. In comparison to previous studies, we observed high proportions of positive samples 57 among field rats (34.0%, 239/702) destined for human consumption and insectivorous bats in 58 guano farms (74.8%, 234/313) adjacent to human dwellings. Most notably among field rats, the 59 odds of coronavirus RNA detection significantly increased along the supply chain from field rats 60 sold by traders (reference group; 20.7% positivity, 39/188) by a factor of 2.2 for field rats sold in 61 large markets (32.0%, 116/363) and 10.0 for field rats sold and served in restaurants (55.6%, 62 84/151). Coronaviruses were detected in the majority of wildlife farms (60.7%, 17/28) and in the 63 Malayan porcupines (6.0%, 20/331) and bamboo rats (6.3%, 6/96) that are farmed. We identified 64 six known coronaviruses in bats and rodents, clustered in three Coronaviridae genera, including 65 the Alpha-, Beta-, and Gammacoronaviruses. Our analysis also suggested either mixing of 66 animal excreta in the environment or interspecies transmission of coronaviruses, as both bat and 67 avian coronaviruses were detected in rodent feces in the trade. The mixing of multiple 68 coronaviruses, and their apparent amplification along the wildlife supply chain into restaurants, 69 suggests maximal risk for end consumers and likely underpins the mechanisms of zoonotic 70 spillover to people. 71 72
Despite the discovery of several closely related viruses in bats, the direct evolutionary progenitor of SARS-CoV-2 has not yet been identified. In this study, we investigated potential animal sources of SARS-related coronaviruses using archived specimens from Sunda pangolins (Manis javanica) and Chinese pangolins (Manis pentadactyla) confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade, and from common palm civets (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus) raised on wildlife farms in Viet Nam. A total of 696 pangolin and civet specimens were screened for the presence of viral RNA from five zoonotic viral families and from Sarbecoviruses using primers specifically designed for pangolin coronaviruses. We also performed a curated data collection of media reports of wildlife confiscation events involving pangolins in Viet Nam between January 2016 and December 2020, to illustrate the global pangolin supply chain in the context of Viet Nam where the trade confiscated pangolins were sampled for this study. All specimens from pangolins and civets sampled along the wildlife supply chains between February 2017 and July 2018, in Viet Nam and tested with conventional PCR assays designed to detect flavivirus, paramyxovirus, filovirus, coronavirus, and orthomyxovirus RNA were negative. Civet samples were also negative for Sarbecoviruses, but 12 specimens from seven live pangolins confiscated in Hung Yen province, northern Viet Nam, in 2018 were positive for Sarbecoviruses. Our phylogenetic trees based on two fragments of the RdRp gene revealed that the Sarbecoviruses identified in these pangolins were closely related to pangolin coronaviruses detected in pangolins confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade in Yunnan and Guangxi provinces, China. Our curated data collection of media reports of wildlife confiscation events involving pangolins in Viet Nam between January 2016 and December 2020, reflected what is known about pangolin trafficking globally. Pangolins confiscated in Viet Nam were largely in transit, moving toward downstream consumers in China. Confiscations included pangolin scales sourced originally from Africa (and African species of pangolins), or pangolin carcasses and live pangolins native to Southeast Asia (predominately the Sunda pangolin) sourced from neighboring range countries and moving through Viet Nam toward provinces bordering China.
A One Health cross-sectoral surveillance approach was implemented to screen biological samples from bats, pigs, and humans at high-risk interfaces for zoonotic viral spillover for five viral families with zoonotic potential in Viet Nam. Over 1600 animal and human samples from bat guano harvesting sites, natural bat roosts, and pig farming operations were tested for coronaviruses (CoVs), paramyxoviruses, influenza viruses, filoviruses and flaviviruses using consensus PCR assays. Human samples were also tested using immunoassays to detect antibodies against eight virus groups. Significant viral diversity, including CoVs closely related to ancestors of pig pathogens, was detected in bats roosting at the human–animal interfaces, illustrating the high risk for CoV spillover from bats to pigs in Viet Nam, where pig density is very high. Season and reproductive period were significantly associated with the detection of bat CoVs, with site-specific effects. Phylogeographic analysis indicated localized viral transmission among pig farms. Our limited human sampling did not detect any known zoonotic bat viruses in human communities living close to the bat cave and harvesting bat guano, but our serological assays showed possible previous exposure to Marburg virus-like (Filoviridae), Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever virus-like (Bunyaviridae) viruses and flaviviruses. Targeted and coordinated One Health surveillance helped uncover this viral pathogen emergence hotspot.
Having overcome a stage of accentuated growth in urbanization (a 93% increase since 1950), today high levels are being maintained, but with a certain equilibrium. The countries whose urbanization levels have grown most are Colombia and Brazil, with an average annual growth of nearly 1.3% between 1950 and 2015.According to BBVA Research, urbanization in Latin America began earlier than in other regions and has managed to develop at a much faster pace. In addition, and keeping in mind the characteristics of Latin America, this increase in the levels of urbanization has greater merit, if one takes into account the low levels of income, capital, employment and productivity.In spite of the positive data on its development and growth, urbanization continues to be concentrated in a very limited number of cities. Only Mexico and Brazil have more than a dozen cities with over a million inhabitants, while countries such as Uruguay and Paraguay don´t have more than two cities with a population of more than one million residents.
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