Risk assessment of SARS-CoV-2 in Antarctic wildlife

• Autores: Barbosa, A.; Varsani, Arvind; Morandini, Virginia; Grimaldi, Wray; Vanstreels, Ralph E.T.; Diaz, Julia Inés; Boulinier, Thierry; Dewar, Meagan; González Acuña, Daniel; Gray, Rachael; McMahon, Clive R.; Miller, Gary; Power, Michelle; Gamble, Amandine; Wille, Michelle
• Año de publicación: 2020
• Idioma: inglés
• Tipo de recurso: artículo
• Materia: CORONAVIRUS; COVID-19; MITIGATION MEASURES; REVERSE ZOONOSES; TRANSMISSION
• Institución: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This pathogen has spread rapidly across the world, causing high numbers of deaths and significant social and economic impacts. SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus with a suggested zoonotic origin with the potential for cross-species transmission among animals. Antarctica can be considered the only continent free of SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, concerns have been expressed regarding the potential human introduction of this virus to the continent through the activities of research or tourismto minimise the effects on human health, and the potential for virus transmission to Antarctic wildlife. We assess the reverse-zoonotic transmission risk to Antarcticwildlife by considering the available information on host susceptibility, dynamics of the infection inhumans, and contact interactions between humans and Antarctic wildlife. The environmental conditions in Antarctica seem to be favourable for the virus stability. Indoor spaces such as those at research stations, research vessels or tourist cruise ships could allow for more transmission among humans and depending on their movements between different locations the virus could be spread across the continent. Among Antarctic wildlife previous in silico analyses suggested that cetaceans are at greater risk of infection whereas seals and birds appear to be at a low infection risk. However, caution needed until further research is carried out and consequently, the precautionary principle should be applied. Field researchers handling animals are identified as the human group posing the highest risk of transmission to animals while tourists and other personnel pose a significant risk only when in close proximity (< 5 m) to Antarctic fauna. We highlight measures to reduce the risk as well as identify of knowledge gaps related to this issue.
Fil: Barbosa, A.. Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales; España. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; España
Fil: Varsani, Arvind. Arizona State University; Estados Unidos. University of Cape Town; Sudáfrica
Fil: Morandini, Virginia. State University of Oregon; Estados Unidos
Fil: Grimaldi, Wray. No especifíca;
Fil: Vanstreels, Ralph E.T.. Institute Research And Rehabilitation Marine Animals; Brasil
Fil: Diaz, Julia Inés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; Argentina
Fil: Boulinier, Thierry. Université Montpellier II; Francia. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; Francia
Fil: Dewar, Meagan. Federation University; Australia
Fil: González Acuña, Daniel. Universidad de Concepción; Chile
Fil: Gray, Rachael. University Of Western Sydney.; Australia
Fil: McMahon, Clive R.. Sydney Institute Of Marine Science; Australia
Fil: Miller, Gary. University of Western Australia; Australia
Fil: Power, Michelle. Macquarie University; Australia
Fil: Gamble, Amandine. University of California; Estados Unidos
Fil: Wille, Michelle. University Of Western Sydney.; Australia