Kendra Poirier Microbiology 9 December 2014 Finding the Natural Reservior of Sars-CoV A severe pneumonia-like virus suddenly appeared in February 2003 in Hanoi of the Guangdong providence in Southern China, and rapidly spread to thirty countries, infecting 8,098 people and killing more than 774 in a matter of months [3]. Investigations identified a Chlmydia-like organism using electron microscopy in patients who had died from this atypical pneumonia, however this could not be confirmed as the disease, as it was not seen in other patients outside China [3]. After a global collaboration, researchers identified the etiologic agent of this atypical pneumonia to be a coronoavirus, known known as SARS-CoV [3]. The disease was eventually …show more content…
Retrospective serologic studies indicated that proior to the SARS outbreak, there were no antibodies in the human population (KSIAZEK ET AL 2003). This finding was vitally important because it indicated that animal-to-human transmission is responsible for the SARS-CoV entrance into the human population. Two groups of researchers recently and independently demonstrated that bats (genus Rhinolophus) are natural reservoirs of Sars-like viruses, which provided very strong evidence that SARS-CoV was a zoonotic virus with wildlife orgin [6,7] The identification of a natural reservoir is both difficult and essential. A natural reservoir is where the virus “hides” between outbreaks, and is often difficult to identify because the organism does not display symptoms of the disease. Early observation of patterns in SARS-CoV transmission showed that many of the first patients were had gone to or worked in China’s exotic animal markets. Early studies in SARS-CoV identification focused on the wild-animal markets of southern China. Researchers in China identified a SARS-like-coronavirus in masked palm civets (Paguma larvata) and a raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in one market in the city Shenzhen, part of the southern provience of Guangdong [8]. It was found that these animals had antibodies against a genetically close coronavirus. Interestingly enough ten civet
In September of 2012, beginning in the country of Saudi Arabia, hospitals began seeing increased cases of a respiratory virus never before seen in humans. They named it Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS. MERS is a viral respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus. It was originally thought to have started there in Saudi Arabia. It was not until later that they were able to trace the origin back to Jordan starting in April of 2012. All outbreaks of MERS have been traced back to originating from the Arabian Peninsula (CDC, 2015a). Unfortunately, it is not known exactly how MERS was contracted in humans, but it is believed to have come from an animal source, probably from camels. Strains of MERS
SARS is a respiratory infection caused by the coronavirus that was thought to have originated in Guangdong China but was not reported until
In the laboratory setting, the virus was found in respiratory droplets, feces, saliva, tears and urine (WHO/DCDSR, 2003). SARS is primarily spread through close, personal contact, such as kissing, hugging, eating or drinking, as well as being within 3 feet of a person who coughs or sneezes while infected and shedding the virus. These activities allow the respiratory droplets shed during these activities to come in contact with mucous membranes found in the eyes, nose and mouth (Kutsar, 2004). Other modes of transmission include aerosolizing procedures in hospital settings and contamination of surfaces in “healthcare facilities, households and other closed environments” (Kutsar, 2004, para. 12). There has been no confirmation of fecal-oral transmission or of transmission via water or food; however, over one-third of the earliest cases in China were among food handlers (Kutsar, 2004). Finally, there is a possibility of animal vector transmission, as discussed in regards to the Hong Kong’s Amoy Gardens (WHO/DCDSR, 2003).
Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a rare deadly infection that is caused by one of five identified strains of the Ebola virus.
To identify the spread of every infectious disease known to infect the human population is problematic. The whereabouts of how certain viruses migrated from its known origin in the Eastern Hemisphere over to the Western Hemisphere is still unclear in relation to West Nile virus (Nelson & Williams, 2014). There are only theories behind the routes on how the virus spread to North America, perhaps the migration of birds infected with West Nile virus, or through the means of creating bioterrorism of weaponizing a virus. West Nile virus, unlike most viruses, are not deadly, but is still considered a public health concern due to the lack of understanding of how the development of the disease is unclear. It is evident that further research needs
An ‘emerging’ disease is one that is speedily increasing in frequency or distribution. This expression not only circumscribes the diseases corresponding with previously unknown agents, but additional known diseases that are ‘re-emerging’, as well. What is it that provokes disease emergence? Epidemiological principles profess that disease is multi-factorial. That is, in inclusion to the existence of the infectious agent, additional factors, such as the agent, host, and/or the environment are all generally imperative for infection and disease to occur. But who would have concluded that one of the most menacing viral infections would result from a mammal? The Nipah Virus Infection (NiV) is a known emerging infection, targeting the public health
The emergence of the “Hong Kong Flu” in 1968-1969 marked the beginning of the A(H3N2) days. When this virus first emerged it had the lowest mortality rate in the 20th century. Although this virus first emerged with such a small death rate, it still continues to kill people to this day. Just as when the A(H2N2) virus appeared in 1957 causing the disappearance of the A(H1N1) virus, the appearance of the A(H2N3) virus caused the disappearance of the A(H2N2) virus. After being dormant for almost 30 years, the A(H1N1) virus reappeared and today
One of the critical failures in the case of the SARS outbreak in Toronto was the fact that very few knew how to effectively respond to the outbreak as this was a new communicable disease. This is evident as in the begin of the epidemic, many of those who had indeed been exposed to and were subsequent carriers of the disease had been moved from one location to another, thus endangering many more unnecessarily. There was however some improvisation as directives would be sent out outlining steps which should be taken in an effort to reduce the possibility of more people becoming infected such as the use of N95 masks (Howitt, Leonard, 2106) which were more suited at filtering out smaller particles as it was believed, due to the nature in which
The spread of a virus later to become known as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) began in a small providence in South China. The initial case of this deadly virus is thought to have occurred on November 16, 2002. By February 2003 it was officially identified as strain of the Coronavirus (also known in the common cold) called SARS (World Health Organization, 2015). This strange illness primarily affected the respiratory system and was eventually found to have a ~50% mortality rate. Duration of the outbreak lasted approximately eight months and spread worldwide, infecting over 8,000 people (Graham,
In the last three years a novel coronavirus has swept through countries like Saudi Arabia, the Philippines, and most
SARS is; a Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. It is a serious form of pneumonia that is caused by a virus that was discovered in 2003. SARS is caused by a member of the family of Coronavirus, the same family that causes the common cold. It is believed that this epidemic was caused by small mammals in China. When someone with the SARS disease sneezes or coughs, droplets of the infection spray out of their mouths. You can easily catch and spread this virus if you breathe in or even touch these particles of infected droplets. The SARS virus can live up to almost six hours on hands, tissues and other surfaces. And then another three hours, after the droplets have dried. SARS can also spread through hands and other objects that the droplets of
In discussing clinical presentation we ought to notice first introducing case in September 2012, an instance of novel coronavirus contamination was accounted for including a man in Saudi Arabia who was admitted to a hospital with pneumonia and acute kidney damage. (1). Just a couple of days after first case presented, a different report showed up of a practically identical infection recognized in a brief moment with acute respiratory syndrome and acute kidney injury (2,3). The second patient at first he developed symptoms in Qatar however, he had flown out to Saudi Arabia before he became sick. The vast majority of people who affirmed to have MERS-CoV contamination had serious acute respiratory disease with fever, cough and shortness of breath,
SARS appears to spread by close person-to-person contact. It is thought that transmission is most readily occurred through respiratory droplets. These can be produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets are propelled through the air and are deposited on the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, or eyes of a person that is nearby. It is also possible that the virus can spread when a person touches a surface or object contaminated with infectious droplets and then touches their mouth, nose, or eyes. Furthermore, it is possible that SARS-CoV might be airborne spread or by other methods that are not yet known.
A number of studies have supported the theory that the virus had originally occurred in animals previous to human infections.5 The MERs-CoV virus is a type of coronavirus that has been known for infecting both birds and many species of mammals. These types of infections are commonly referred to as zoonotic diseases because the pathogens are able to be transferred from animals to humans. Zoonosis can happen with or without a vector in order to spread the infection. Although the exact origin of the MERs-CoV infections is unknown, there has been convincing research performed that has found related types of coronaviruses in bats and camels. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the coronavirus is found in multiple species and can cause respiratory illness and gastrointestinal upset.
MERS-CoV is a respiratory disease that was first found in Saudi Arabia in 2012. This virus can cause people to get diseases such as the common cold to a Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).