The threat of zoonotic coronaviruses
Matthew J Gartner A and Kanta Subbarao A B C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
B WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
C Tel.: +61 3 9342 9310; Email: kanta.subbarao@influenzacentre.org
Microbiology Australia 42(1) 4-9 https://doi.org/10.1071/MA21003
Submitted: 13 February 2021 Accepted: 1 March 2021 Published: 12 April 2021
Journal Compilation © The Authors 2021 Open Access CC BY, published (by CSIRO Publishing) on behalf of the ASM
Abstract
Since 2002, three zoonotic coronaviruses (CoV), SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 have emerged in humans, establishing that emergence of coronaviruses from animal reservoirs represents a significant pandemic threat. SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV led to smaller epidemics with very high case fatality rates while SARS-CoV-2 resulted in a global pandemic. These zoonotic coronaviruses have their likely origins in bat species and they transmit to humans through intermediate hosts. Coronaviruses can occasionally jump between host species due to their high rate of recombination. Pandemic preparedness requires surveillance in animals and occupationally exposed humans and prevention and treatment strategies that have broad activity against coronaviruses.
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