Aquatic Biota is Not Exempt from Coronavirus Infections: An Overview

Abstract

Coronaviruses are pathogens recognized for having an animal origin and commonly associated with terrestrial environments. However, although in few cases, there are reports of their presence in aquatic organisms like fish, crustaceans, waterfowls and marine mammals. None of these cases have even led to human health effects, when contact with these infected organisms, whether they are alive or dead. Aquatic birds seem to be the main group in carrying and circulating these types of viruses in healthy bird populations and play an important role in these environments. Although the route of infection for CoVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 2019) by water or aquatic organisms, has not yet been observed in the wild, the relevance of its study is highlighted , because there are cases of other viral infections (no coronavirus), which are known to have been transferred to the human by aquatic biota. What is even better, it becomes encouraging to know that aquatic species shows very few cases in fishes, marine mammals, and crustaceans, and some other aquatic animals may also be a possible source of cure or treatment against coronaviruses, as some evidence with algae and marine sponges suggests.