Coronavirus in cat flea: findings and questions regarding COVID-19

Villar, Margarita; Mera, Isabel G. Fernández de; Artigas-Jerónimo, Sara; Contreras, Marinela; Gortázar, Christian; Fuente, José de la

doi:10.1186/s13071-020-04292-y

Cited by 18 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…As mentioned above, coronavirus-like organisms have been previously identified in sea bird tick Ixodes uriae [ 29 ] and in unfed cat flea Ctenocephalides felis [ 30 ]. We were unable to obtain both sea bird tick and cat flea ACE sequences.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Natural infections with SARS-CoV-2 have been reported in several animal species with evidence of zoonotic (animal-to-human) and reverse zoonotic (human-to-animal) virus transmission [ 28 ]. Coronavirus-like organisms have been previously identified in tick Ixodes uriae [ 29 ] and in unfed cat flea Ctenocephalides felis [ 30 ], thus raising the question of the possible role of ectoparasite arthropod vectors on SARS-CoV-2 passive and/or biological transmission [ 30 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Host- and virus-derived factors continue to be key drivers of the pandemic [ 35 ]. Based on the role of arthropod ectoparasites in pathogen passive and/or biological transmission and available preliminary evidence [ 29 , 30 ], the possible role of arthropod vectors in SARS-CoV-2 transmission needs to be considered.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Arthropod Ectoparasites Have Potential to Bind SARS-CoV-2 via ACE

Ashford

Díaz-Sánchez

et al. 2021

Viruses

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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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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Arthropod Ectoparasites Have Potential to Bind SARS-CoV-2 via ACE

Ashford

Díaz-Sánchez

et al. 2021

Viruses

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“…In this setting, our opinion is that the virus's putative initial carrier across species could be an insect. Insects have important numbers of ACE2 receptors (evolutionarily conserved proteins, although insufficiently described) [16][17][18][19], but also of ADAM-17 enzymes, essential for the viral and ACE2 activation [20].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This suggests that the coronaviruses could persist and replicate into fleas and act as biological and mechanical vectors of the disease across an important range of species, including the initial transmission from bats to other species. Also, a coronavirus-like agent was isolated in the tick of seabirds, responsible for the fatal peritonitis in cats [19]. Even moths could act as vectors for the coronaviruses, although studies on this aspect are currently missing.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding SARS-CoV-2 features of infectivity, aggressiveness, and transmissibility: an insect-vector theory for SARS-CoV-2 dissemination

Lazăr

2021

jidhealth

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The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a ribonucleic acid–based (RNA-based) lineage B β-coronavirus characterized by 10-20 times higher infectivity and transmissibility even across species than previous coronaviruses. The significant infectivity rate of SARS-CoV-2 is due to its different host cell entry mechanisms that are mainly via angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors contrasting earlier coronaviruses that used mainly the endosomal route. Due to the widespread distribution of ACE2 receptors throughout our body, various routes of infectivity are possible, highlighting the necessity of employing multiple forms of protection besides face masks to limit inter-human transmissibility. SARS-CoV-2 exhibits other remarkable features such as the ability to escape the immune system repeated genomic mutations that make it difficult to design a vaccine to address all viral strains and form huge host cell syncytia leading to massive tissue destruction. If we accept SARS-CoV-2 primary reservoir from bats, we should investigate the routes of viral inter-species propagation. In this article, a new theory is proposed- that the dissemination of the virus from the bats to other species and humans could have been possible via an insect vector, as insects possess significant amounts of both ACE2 receptors and a disintegrin and metalloprotease 17 (ADAM-17) enzymes that are essential for virus infectivity. .

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Prevention of tick-borne diseases: challenge to recent medicine

Hromníková

Furka

et al. 2022

Biologia

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Ticks represent important vectors and reservoirs of pathogens, causing a number of diseases in humans and animals, and significant damage to livestock every year. Modern research into protection against ticks and tick-borne diseases focuses mainly on the feeding stage, i.e. the period when ticks take their blood meal from their hosts during which pathogens are transmitted. Physiological functions in ticks, such as food intake, saliva production, reproduction, development, and others are under control of neuropeptides and peptide hormones which may be involved in pathogen transmission that cause Lyme borreliosis or tick-borne encephalitis. According to current knowledge, ticks are not reservoirs or vectors for the spread of COVID-19 disease. The search for new vaccination methods to protect against ticks and their transmissible pathogens is a challenge for current science in view of global changes, including the increasing migration of the human population. Highlights • Tick-borne diseases have an increasing incidence due to climate change and increased human migration • To date, there is no evidence of transmission of coronavirus COVID-19 by tick as a vector • To date, there are only a few modern, effective, and actively- used vaccines against ticks or tick-borne diseases • Neuropeptides and their receptors expressed in ticks may be potentially used for vaccine design

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Coronavirus in cat flea: findings and questions regarding COVID-19

Cited by 18 publications

References 16 publications

Arthropod Ectoparasites Have Potential to Bind SARS-CoV-2 via ACE

Arthropod Ectoparasites Have Potential to Bind SARS-CoV-2 via ACE

Understanding SARS-CoV-2 features of infectivity, aggressiveness, and transmissibility: an insect-vector theory for SARS-CoV-2 dissemination

Prevention of tick-borne diseases: challenge to recent medicine

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