Zoonotic Epidemics of Coronaviruses, Emergence of Covid-19, and Future Perspective for Zoonotic Diseases

Abstract

Infectious emerging and re-emerging zoonotic epidemics are of greater threat for public health. Coronaviruses are group of related viruses that are mainly considered to cause diseases in mammals, birds and humans. During last two decades, it spilled over three times by zoonotic pathways with genetic modification and emerged as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 1 (SARS-CoV-1), middle-east respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In December 2019, pneumonia of unknown origin currently known as COVID-19 was reported which is linked to the wet market of Wuhan, China, has drained the attention of the world as global pandemic with 34,495,176 cases, 1,025,729 deaths from all territories of world (WHO, Weekly Epidemiological Update 2 October 2020). Complete genomic sequencing and phylogenetic studies revealed that SARS-CoV-2, a beta coronavirus, originated from bats with remaining codons of an intermediate host, which is still under research. SARS-CoV-2 is highly pathogenic and human to human spread makes it more virulent. Government institutions and private organizations have boosted the research for drug, vaccine and immunoglobulin development which are now under clinical trial phases. AI helped a lot in this panic situation and advancement in such technologies can help in combating such baffling battles. Therefore, collaborative world response and investment to reinforce research for technological advancements and strategically development in various disciplines to control future pandemics is perquisite.