CCoV-HuPn-2018 Coronavirus

CCoV-HuPn-2018 coronavirus, with its origin in dogs, was detected among patients hospitalised with pneumonia in 2017-2018 in Malaysia. As per study, it may be the eighth unique coronavirus known cause disease in humans, once confirmed as pathogen.  However, it does not poses pandemic risks currently.

What is the issue?

Researchers had tested nasal swab samples of 301 pneumonia patients at a hospital in east Malaysian state of Sarawak. Eight of the samples including samples of children under 5 years old, were tested positive for canine coronavirus. Its genomic sequencing a new strain, named CCoV-HuPn-2018, was found which had similar characteristics like coronaviruses causing infections in cats and pigs. However, it resembles mostly to one that infected dogs.

Genetic Mutation

Virus also comprised a genetic deletion, or mutation which was not found in any canine coronaviruses however, it was present in human strains like SARS-COV and SARS-COV-2.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2)

This virus causes COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) and other respiratory illness. It is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus. It is contagious in humans. Its successor in SATS-CoV-1, which had caused 2002–2004 SARS outbreak. It has zoonotic origins and is genetically similar to bat coronaviruses.

2002–2004 SARS outbreak

It was an epidemic that involved severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) caused due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-1). This outbreak was first witnessed in China in November 2002.

Month: Current Affairs - May, 2021