Epidemiological Study of Betacoronaviruses in Captive Malayan Pangolins
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has significantly affected international public health safety. It has been reported that the pathogen severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes COVID-19, could originate from bats and utilize the Malayan pangolin (Mani...
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doaj-1c8325821f7f4719a0a4760525ae00372021-03-03T05:49:34ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2021-03-011210.3389/fmicb.2021.657439657439Epidemiological Study of Betacoronaviruses in Captive Malayan PangolinsLinmiao Li0Xiaohu Wang1Yan Hua2Ping Liu3Jiabin Zhou4Jing Chen5Fuyu An6Fanghui Hou7Wenzhong Huang8Jinping Chen9Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, ChinaInstitute of Animal Health, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Silviculture, Protection and Utilization, Guangdong Academy of Forestry, Guangzhou, ChinaGuangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, ChinaGuangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, ChinaInstitute of Animal Health, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Silviculture, Protection and Utilization, Guangdong Academy of Forestry, Guangzhou, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Wildlife Rescue Center, Guangzhou, ChinaGuangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, ChinaGuangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, ChinaThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has significantly affected international public health safety. It has been reported that the pathogen severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes COVID-19, could originate from bats and utilize the Malayan pangolin (Manis javanica) as an intermediate host. To gain further insights into the coronaviruses carried by pangolins, we investigated the occurrence of Betacoronavirus (β-CoV) infections in captive Malayan pangolins in the Guangdong province of China. We detected three β-CoV-positive M. javanica individuals with a positive rate of 6.98% and also detected β-CoV in two dead pangolins sampled in August 2019. The CoV carried by pangolins is a new β-CoV, which is genetically related to SARS-CoV-2. Furthermore, the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) was detected in eight organs of pangolins, with the highest ACE2 mRNA levels in the kidney, suggesting that these organs could be at a risk of β-CoV infection. These results enable us to better understand the status of β-CoV carried by Malayan pangolins, while providing a theoretical basis for better pangolin protection and viral control.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2021.657439/fullBetacoronavirusepidemiologyMalayan pangolinACE2phylogenetic analysis |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Linmiao Li Xiaohu Wang Yan Hua Ping Liu Jiabin Zhou Jing Chen Fuyu An Fanghui Hou Wenzhong Huang Jinping Chen |
spellingShingle |
Linmiao Li Xiaohu Wang Yan Hua Ping Liu Jiabin Zhou Jing Chen Fuyu An Fanghui Hou Wenzhong Huang Jinping Chen Epidemiological Study of Betacoronaviruses in Captive Malayan Pangolins Frontiers in Microbiology Betacoronavirus epidemiology Malayan pangolin ACE2 phylogenetic analysis |
author_facet |
Linmiao Li Xiaohu Wang Yan Hua Ping Liu Jiabin Zhou Jing Chen Fuyu An Fanghui Hou Wenzhong Huang Jinping Chen |
author_sort |
Linmiao Li |
title |
Epidemiological Study of Betacoronaviruses in Captive Malayan Pangolins |
title_short |
Epidemiological Study of Betacoronaviruses in Captive Malayan Pangolins |
title_full |
Epidemiological Study of Betacoronaviruses in Captive Malayan Pangolins |
title_fullStr |
Epidemiological Study of Betacoronaviruses in Captive Malayan Pangolins |
title_full_unstemmed |
Epidemiological Study of Betacoronaviruses in Captive Malayan Pangolins |
title_sort |
epidemiological study of betacoronaviruses in captive malayan pangolins |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
series |
Frontiers in Microbiology |
issn |
1664-302X |
publishDate |
2021-03-01 |
description |
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has significantly affected international public health safety. It has been reported that the pathogen severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes COVID-19, could originate from bats and utilize the Malayan pangolin (Manis javanica) as an intermediate host. To gain further insights into the coronaviruses carried by pangolins, we investigated the occurrence of Betacoronavirus (β-CoV) infections in captive Malayan pangolins in the Guangdong province of China. We detected three β-CoV-positive M. javanica individuals with a positive rate of 6.98% and also detected β-CoV in two dead pangolins sampled in August 2019. The CoV carried by pangolins is a new β-CoV, which is genetically related to SARS-CoV-2. Furthermore, the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) was detected in eight organs of pangolins, with the highest ACE2 mRNA levels in the kidney, suggesting that these organs could be at a risk of β-CoV infection. These results enable us to better understand the status of β-CoV carried by Malayan pangolins, while providing a theoretical basis for better pangolin protection and viral control. |
topic |
Betacoronavirus epidemiology Malayan pangolin ACE2 phylogenetic analysis |
url |
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2021.657439/full |
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