Comprehensive Knowledge of Reservoir Hosts is Key to Mitigating Future Pandemics

Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)and other epidemics(such as severe acute respiratory syndrome[SARS],Ebola,and H1N1)are stark reminders that knowledge of animal behavior and ecosystem health are key to controlling the spread of zoonotic diseases early in their onset.However,we have very limited information about the set of behavioral and ecological factors that promote viral spillover and the effects that has on ecosystem health and disease transmission.Thus,expanding our current knowledge of reservoir hosts and pandemics represents an urgent and critical tool in ecological epidemiology.We also propose to create an integrative database that ranks animal species in terms of their likelihood as hosts for specific infectious diseases.We call for a global and cooperative effort of field and laboratory scientists to create,maintain,and update this information in order to reduce the severity of future pandemics.

Immunological reactive rate to Zika virus in canine sera:A report from a tropical area and concern on pet,zoonosis and reservoir host

This letter to editor discusses and describes Zika virus IgG seropositivity rate in canine sera from endemic area.This is the first world report and it raises an urgent concern on pet,zoonosis and reservoir host regarding Zika virus.

Preliminary study on investigation of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis in endemic foci of Ethiopia by detecting Leishmania infections in rodents

Objective:To investigate the zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis(ZVL) by identification of the most probable reservoir hosts using parasite isolation and analysis of a possible transmission dynamics of the disease in extra-domestic agricultural fields and rural villages.Methods:Rodents were collected from selected study sites in kala-azar endemic areas based on information for localities of kala-azar cases for screening of Leshmania infections using parasitological,serological and polymerase chain reaction(PCR) from March.2013 to January,2014.Ketamine(Clorketam Veterinary) was used to anaesthesize the rodents according the prescribed dosage(average 2 mg/kg for intra-venous route).The blood obtained using sterile needle was dropped into sterile filter paper and allowed to air dry before sealing in plastic bags.The tissues from liver,spleen and skin were macerated in Locke's solution before transferring them into NNN medium.Blood and touch smears of liver,spleen,skin and bone marrow were prepared for fixing using methanol and staining by Giemsa stain for microscopy.These tissues were also ascd for DNA extractions and PCR amplification of Leishmania infection.Results:A total of 335 rodents(13 species) were analyzed by sampling internal organs.The infection rate by PCR was 11.1%(6/54) for Arvicanthis nilothicas compared to 17.6%(3/17) and 12.5%(2/16) for Acomys cahirinus and Tarera(C) robustus respectively.Almost all the infections were found from bone marrow samples(8/48 or 16.7%) compared with 1/91(1.1%) liver,2/87(2.2%) spleen and 0/87(0%) skin.In all study sites with past human VL cases,rodents and proved vectors shared similar habitats.Conclusions:Leishmania donovani might circulate among different species of rodents in kala-azar endemic lowlands and valleys of Ethiopia by Phlebotamus orientalis and Phlebotomus martini.Detailed studies to substantiate the preliminary data on the possible role of these rodents arc urgently needed.

Prevalence of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus in animals in Henan Province, China

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome(SFTS)is an emerging infectious disease caused by severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus(SFTSV).SFTSV has been found in humans,ticks and animals,and SFTS has high mortality and increasing prevalence in East Asia.In the study,the samples(heart,liver,lung,kidney,spleen,brain tissue and serum)were collected from 374 domestic animals and 241 wild animals in Pingqiao District and Xinxian County of Xinyang in Henan Province,China.275(44.72%,275/615)animals were positive for anti-SFTSV antibodies,the anti-SFTSV antibodies positive ratios of domestic and wild animals were 43.58%(163/374)and 46.47%(112/241),respectively.There was no significant difference in domestic and wild animals,but significant differences were detected among different species of animals(x^2=112.59,P<0.0001).Among 615 animals,105(17.07%,105/615)animals were positive for SFTSV RNA,and only one SFTSV strain was isolated from heart tissue of a yellow weasel.The phylogenetic analysis shows that the sequence from animals belonged to the same group with viral sequences obtained from humans.The animals maybe play a reservoir host in maintaining the life cycle of SFTSV in nature.