Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Terrestrial Animals in Southern Nigeria: Potential Cases of Reverse Zoonosis
Since SARS-CoV-2 caused the COVID-19 pandemic, records have suggested the occurrence of reverse zoonosis of pets and farm animals in contact with SARS-CoV-2-positive humans in the Occident. However, there is little information on the spread of the virus among animals in contact with humans in Africa...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-05-01
|
| Series: | Viruses |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/15/5/1187 |
| _version_ | 1797598119690502144 |
|---|---|
| author | Anise N. Happi Akeemat O. Ayinla Olusola A. Ogunsanya Ayotunde E. Sijuwola Femi M. Saibu Kazeem Akano Uwem E. George Adebayo E. Sopeju Peter M. Rabinowitz Kayode K. Ojo Lynn K. Barrett Wesley C. Van Voorhis Christian T. Happi |
| author_facet | Anise N. Happi Akeemat O. Ayinla Olusola A. Ogunsanya Ayotunde E. Sijuwola Femi M. Saibu Kazeem Akano Uwem E. George Adebayo E. Sopeju Peter M. Rabinowitz Kayode K. Ojo Lynn K. Barrett Wesley C. Van Voorhis Christian T. Happi |
| author_sort | Anise N. Happi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Since SARS-CoV-2 caused the COVID-19 pandemic, records have suggested the occurrence of reverse zoonosis of pets and farm animals in contact with SARS-CoV-2-positive humans in the Occident. However, there is little information on the spread of the virus among animals in contact with humans in Africa. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 in various animals in Nigeria. Overall, 791 animals from Ebonyi, Ogun, Ondo, and Oyo States, Nigeria were screened for SARS-CoV-2 using RT-qPCR (<i>n</i> = 364) and IgG ELISA (<i>n</i> = 654). SARS-CoV-2 positivity rates were 45.9% (RT-qPCR) and 1.4% (ELISA). SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in almost all animal taxa and sampling locations except Oyo State. SARS-CoV-2 IgGs were detected only in goats from Ebonyi and pigs from Ogun States. Overall, SARS-CoV-2 infectivity rates were higher in 2021 than in 2022. Our study highlights the ability of the virus to infect various animals. It presents the first report of natural SARS-CoV-2 infection in poultry, pigs, domestic ruminants, and lizards. The close human–animal interactions in these settings suggest ongoing reverse zoonosis, highlighting the role of behavioral factors of transmission and the potential for SARS-CoV-2 to spread among animals. These underscore the importance of continuous monitoring to detect and intervene in any eventual upsurge. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:14:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d8fba1ab04614563a792615afc39ffc5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4915 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:14:50Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Viruses |
| spelling | doaj.art-d8fba1ab04614563a792615afc39ffc52023-11-18T03:40:14ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152023-05-01155118710.3390/v15051187Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Terrestrial Animals in Southern Nigeria: Potential Cases of Reverse ZoonosisAnise N. Happi0Akeemat O. Ayinla1Olusola A. Ogunsanya2Ayotunde E. Sijuwola3Femi M. Saibu4Kazeem Akano5Uwem E. George6Adebayo E. Sopeju7Peter M. Rabinowitz8Kayode K. Ojo9Lynn K. Barrett10Wesley C. Van Voorhis11Christian T. Happi12African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Redeemer’s University, Ede 23210, Osun State, NigeriaAfrican Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Redeemer’s University, Ede 23210, Osun State, NigeriaAfrican Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Redeemer’s University, Ede 23210, Osun State, NigeriaAfrican Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Redeemer’s University, Ede 23210, Osun State, NigeriaAfrican Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Redeemer’s University, Ede 23210, Osun State, NigeriaAfrican Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Redeemer’s University, Ede 23210, Osun State, NigeriaAfrican Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Redeemer’s University, Ede 23210, Osun State, NigeriaAfrican Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Redeemer’s University, Ede 23210, Osun State, NigeriaCenter for One Health Research, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USADepartment of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Center for Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98109, USADepartment of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Center for Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98109, USADepartment of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Center for Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98109, USAAfrican Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Redeemer’s University, Ede 23210, Osun State, NigeriaSince SARS-CoV-2 caused the COVID-19 pandemic, records have suggested the occurrence of reverse zoonosis of pets and farm animals in contact with SARS-CoV-2-positive humans in the Occident. However, there is little information on the spread of the virus among animals in contact with humans in Africa. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 in various animals in Nigeria. Overall, 791 animals from Ebonyi, Ogun, Ondo, and Oyo States, Nigeria were screened for SARS-CoV-2 using RT-qPCR (<i>n</i> = 364) and IgG ELISA (<i>n</i> = 654). SARS-CoV-2 positivity rates were 45.9% (RT-qPCR) and 1.4% (ELISA). SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in almost all animal taxa and sampling locations except Oyo State. SARS-CoV-2 IgGs were detected only in goats from Ebonyi and pigs from Ogun States. Overall, SARS-CoV-2 infectivity rates were higher in 2021 than in 2022. Our study highlights the ability of the virus to infect various animals. It presents the first report of natural SARS-CoV-2 infection in poultry, pigs, domestic ruminants, and lizards. The close human–animal interactions in these settings suggest ongoing reverse zoonosis, highlighting the role of behavioral factors of transmission and the potential for SARS-CoV-2 to spread among animals. These underscore the importance of continuous monitoring to detect and intervene in any eventual upsurge.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/15/5/1187SARS-CoV-2domestic animalsnon-domestic animalsreverse zoonosissurveillanceNigeria |
| spellingShingle | Anise N. Happi Akeemat O. Ayinla Olusola A. Ogunsanya Ayotunde E. Sijuwola Femi M. Saibu Kazeem Akano Uwem E. George Adebayo E. Sopeju Peter M. Rabinowitz Kayode K. Ojo Lynn K. Barrett Wesley C. Van Voorhis Christian T. Happi Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Terrestrial Animals in Southern Nigeria: Potential Cases of Reverse Zoonosis Viruses SARS-CoV-2 domestic animals non-domestic animals reverse zoonosis surveillance Nigeria |
| title | Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Terrestrial Animals in Southern Nigeria: Potential Cases of Reverse Zoonosis |
| title_full | Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Terrestrial Animals in Southern Nigeria: Potential Cases of Reverse Zoonosis |
| title_fullStr | Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Terrestrial Animals in Southern Nigeria: Potential Cases of Reverse Zoonosis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Terrestrial Animals in Southern Nigeria: Potential Cases of Reverse Zoonosis |
| title_short | Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Terrestrial Animals in Southern Nigeria: Potential Cases of Reverse Zoonosis |
| title_sort | detection of sars cov 2 in terrestrial animals in southern nigeria potential cases of reverse zoonosis |
| topic | SARS-CoV-2 domestic animals non-domestic animals reverse zoonosis surveillance Nigeria |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/15/5/1187 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT anisenhappi detectionofsarscov2interrestrialanimalsinsouthernnigeriapotentialcasesofreversezoonosis AT akeematoayinla detectionofsarscov2interrestrialanimalsinsouthernnigeriapotentialcasesofreversezoonosis AT olusolaaogunsanya detectionofsarscov2interrestrialanimalsinsouthernnigeriapotentialcasesofreversezoonosis AT ayotundeesijuwola detectionofsarscov2interrestrialanimalsinsouthernnigeriapotentialcasesofreversezoonosis AT femimsaibu detectionofsarscov2interrestrialanimalsinsouthernnigeriapotentialcasesofreversezoonosis AT kazeemakano detectionofsarscov2interrestrialanimalsinsouthernnigeriapotentialcasesofreversezoonosis AT uwemegeorge detectionofsarscov2interrestrialanimalsinsouthernnigeriapotentialcasesofreversezoonosis AT adebayoesopeju detectionofsarscov2interrestrialanimalsinsouthernnigeriapotentialcasesofreversezoonosis AT petermrabinowitz detectionofsarscov2interrestrialanimalsinsouthernnigeriapotentialcasesofreversezoonosis AT kayodekojo detectionofsarscov2interrestrialanimalsinsouthernnigeriapotentialcasesofreversezoonosis AT lynnkbarrett detectionofsarscov2interrestrialanimalsinsouthernnigeriapotentialcasesofreversezoonosis AT wesleycvanvoorhis detectionofsarscov2interrestrialanimalsinsouthernnigeriapotentialcasesofreversezoonosis AT christianthappi detectionofsarscov2interrestrialanimalsinsouthernnigeriapotentialcasesofreversezoonosis |