M ! Watchtower Services

Abstract

There is a new public health crises threatening the world with the emergence and spread of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) or the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus originated in bats and was transmitted to humans through yet unknown intermediary animals in Wuhan, Hubei province, China in December 2019.
There have been around 96,000 reported cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-2019) and 3300 reported deaths to date (05/03/2020). The disease is transmitted by inhalation or contact with infected droplets and the incubation period ranges from 2 to 14
d. The symptoms are usually fever, cough, sore throat, breathlessness, fatigue, 1nalaise among others. The disease is mild in most people; in some (usually the elderly and those with

However, the success of such a vaccine relies greatly on its ability to provide protection not only against present versions of the virus but also the ones that are likely to e1nerge in the future. This can be achieved by identifying antibodies that can recognize relatively conserved epitopes that are maintained as such even after the occurrence of considerable variations (362). Even though several vaccine clinical trials are being conducted around the world, pregnant wo1nen have been co1npletely excluded from these studies. Pregnant wo1nen are highly vulnerable to e1nerging diseases such as COVID-19 due to alterations in the i1111nune systen1 and other physiological systems that are associated with pregnancy. Therefore, in the event of successful vaccine develop1nent, pregnant wo1nen will not get access to the vaccines (361). Hence, it is recommended that pregnant wo1nen be included in the ongoing vaccine trials, since successful vaccination in pregnancy will protect the 1nother, fetus, and newborn.

The heterologous i1nmune effects induced by Bacillus Cahnette Guerin (BCG) vaccination is a pron1ising strategy for controlling the COVID-19 pande1nic and requires fu1iher investigations. BCG is a widely used vaccine against tuberculosis in high-

functions re111ain canceled in the affected cities, and persons are asked to work fro1n hon1e (232). Hence, it is a relief that the current outbreak of COVID-19 infection can be brought under control with the adoption of strategic preventive and control measures along with the early isolation of subsequent cases in the coming days. Studies also report that since air traffic between China and African countries increased n1any times over in the decade after the SARS outbreak, African countries need to be vigilant to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus in Africa (225). Due to fear of virus spread, Wuhan City was co1npletely shut down
(233). The itrunediate control of the ongoing
COVID-19 outbreaks appears a 1na1runoth task, especially for developing countries, due to their inability to allocate quarantine stations that could screen infected individuals' movements (234). Such underdeveloped countries should divert their resources and energy to enforcing the pri1nary level of preventive 1neasures, like controlling the entry of individuals fro1n China or countries where the disease has flared up, isolating the infected individuals, and quarantining individuals with suspected infection. Most of the sub-Saharan African countries have a fragile health system that can be



ducks, and pigs are not at all susceptible to SARS­ CoV-2 (329).
Si1nilar1y, the National Veterinary Services Laboratories of the USDA have reported COVID-19 in tjgers and lions that exhibited respiratory signs like dry cough and wheezing. The zoo ani1nals are suspected to have been infected by an asy1npto1natic zookeeper (335). The total nu1nber of COVID-19- positive cases in hutnan beings is increasing at a high rate, thereby creating ideal conditions for viral spillover to other species, such as pigs. The evidence obtained fro1n SARS-CoV suggests that pigs can get infected with SARS-CoV-2 (336). However, experi1nental inoculation with SARS-CoV-2 failed to infect pigs (329).
Further studies are required to identify the possible animal reservoirs of SARS-CoV-2 and the seasonal variation in the circulation of these vin1ses in the animal population. Research collaboration bet\veen hu1nan and animal health sectors is beco1ning a necessity to evaluate and identify the possible risk factors of trans1nission between ani1nals and humans. Such cooperation ,vill help to devise efficient strategies for the management of e1nerging zoonotic diseases (12).

snaKcs. and vanous 0u1c1 \VllO annna1s \_LU, _1u, J'J, 93, 124, 125, 287). Coronavirus infection is linked to different kinds of clinical 1nanifestations, varying from enteritis in cows and pigs, upper respiratory disease in chickens, and fatal respirato1y infections in humans (30).

Among the CoV genera, Alphacoronavirus and Betacoronavirus infect 1na1mnals, while Ganimacoronavirus and Deltacoronavirus mainly infect birds, fishes, and, sometimes, 1na1nmals (27, 29, 106). Several novel coronaviruses that come under the genus Deltacoronavints have been discovered in the past from birds, like Wigeon coronavi1us HKU20, Bulbul coronavi1us HKUl 1, Munia coronavirus HKU13, white-eye coronavirus HKU16, night-heron coronavirus HKU19, and con11non 1noorhen coronavirus HKU21, as well as fro1n pigs (porcine coronavirus HKU15) (6, 29). Trans1nissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), porcine epide1nic diarrhea virus (PEDV), and porcine he1nagglutinating encephalomyelitis virus (PHEV) are s01ne of the coronaviruses of swine. Among the1n, TGEV and PEDV are responsible for causing severe gastroenteritis 1n young piglets with noteworthy 1norbidity and 1nortality. Infection with PHEV also causes enteric infection but can cause encephalitis due to its ability to infect the nervous

prevailing chronic medical conditions such as lung disease, heart failure, cancer, cerebrovascular disease, renal disease, diabetes, liver disease and immunocompromising conditions and pregnancy are risk factors for developing severe illness. Management includes implementation of prevention and control measures and supportive therapy to manage the complications, together with advanced organ

support.⁵⁷

Corticosteroids must be avoided unless specified for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation or septic shock, as it is likely to prolong viral replication as detected in MERS-CoV patients.⁵⁸