Emerging Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), a Pandemic Public Health Emergency with Animal Linkages: Current Status Update

Abstract

After the appearance of first cases of ‘pneumonia of unknown origin’ in the Wuhan city, China, during late 2019, the disease progressed fast. Its cause was identified as a novel coronavirus, named provisionally 2019-nCoV. Subsequently, an official name was given as SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2) by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) study group. The World Health Organization (WHO) named the Coronavirus disease-2019 as COVID-19. The epidemics of COVID-2019 have been recorded over 113 countries/territories/areas apart from China and filched more than 4292 humans, affecting severely around 1,18,326 cases in a short span. The status of COVID-2019 emergency revised by the WHO within 42 days from Public Health International Emergency (January 30, 2020) to a pandemic (March 11, 2020). Nonetheless, the case fatality rate (CFR) of the current epidemic is on the rise (between 2-4%), relatively is lower than the previous SARS-CoV (2002/2003) and MERS-CoV (2012) outbreaks. Even though investigations are on its way, the researchers across the globe have assumptions of animal-origin of current SARS-CoV-2. A recent case report provides evidence of mild COVID-2019 infection in a pet dog that acquired COVID-2019 infection from his owner in Hong Kong. The news on travellers associated spread across the globe have also put many countries on alert with the cancellation of tourist visa to all affected countries and postponement of events where international visits were required. A few diagnostic approaches, including quantitative and differential real-time polymerase chain reaction assays, have been recommended for the screening of the individuals at risk. In the absence of any selective vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, re-purposed drugs are advocated in many studies. This article discourse the current worldwide situation of COVID-2019 with information on virus, epidemiology, host, the role of animals, effective diagnosis, therapeutics, preventive and control approaches making people aware on the disease outcomes.

COVID-19: animals, veterinary and zoonotic links

“…Among the four genera in the Coronaviridae family, Alphacoronavirus and Betacoronavirus usually infect mammals and have probable bat origin, while Gammacoronavirus and Deltacoronavirus infect birds, fishes, and mammals and are assumed to have swine origin (Woo et al 2012;Hu et al 2017;Cui et al 2019 (Ma et al, 2008). A list of other animal species also reported harbouring the CoVs such as cattle, horses, swine, dogs, cats, camels, rabbits, rodents, birds, ferrets, mink, bats, snake (such as Chinese cobra and krait), frogs, marmots, hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus), Malayan or Javan or Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica), many other wild animals and their role as carrier/reservoir needs urgent attention (WHO 2003;Dhama et al 2014aDhama et al , 2014bDhama et al , 2020aMonchatre-Leroy et al 2017;Ji et al 2020a;Malik et al, 2020b;Xu 2020). 4. Covid-19/SARS-CoV-2: animals, veterinary, zoonotic links and transmission…”

“…Efforts for rapid diagnosis, strict vigilance, appropriate isolation, and quarantine procedures to halt its further spread, enhanced surveillance and monitoring, strengthening of medical facilities and intensive care units, networking programs, rapid communication and providing updates, knowledge awareness of its public health risks to the general population, high efforts to develop effective vaccines and therapeutics/drugs are being explored optimally. International collaborative efforts and readiness to tackle further heightened emergency to a level of pandemic potential along with following suitable One health approach to combat this emerging virus haunting the lives of billions of human population are being followed effectively (Bonilla-Aldana et al 2020;Dhama et al 2013aDhama et al , 2013b2020aMalik et al 2020aMalik et al , 2020bRodriguez-Morales et al 2020c). Vaccines appear to be the long-lasting solution for the COVID-19 pandemic.…”

Coronavirus Disease 2019 – COVID-19

“…Implementation of rigorous control and preventive measures, all together, might control the reproduction number and reduce the transmission risk (228). Considering the zoonotic links associated with SARS-CoV-2, the one health approach may play a vital role in the prevention and control measures being followed to restrain this pandemic virus (322)(323)(324). The substantial importation of COVID-19 pre-symptomatic cases from Wuhan has resulted in independent, self-sustaining outbreaks across the major cities both within the country and across the globe.…”

Pandemic Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): Challenges and A Global Perspective

“…Unfortunately, this is the third event of the spillover of a zoonotic respiratory virus to humans in this decade, highlighting the necessity of prerequisite multidisciplinary coordination for curbing the emergence of novel viruses and controlling such apocalyptic events [139][140][141]. The 'One health approach' is one such initiative that incorporates the preventive strategies for the emergence of zoonosis in all three arms; humans, animals, and the environment [142,143].…”