All articles tagged with #cross species transmission
Four privately owned lemurs contracted human herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) after close contact with people (including a lemur involved in a 'lemur yoga' session) and died from encephalitis; this study marks the first molecular confirmation of HSV-1 in lemurs and highlights the risks of close human–primate interaction in captive settings, urging stricter biosecurity.
A Science Advances study in 18 cynomolgus macaques found limited prion seeding in the brain and spleen of some animals after exposure to CWD prions; standard tests often failed to detect prions, while highly sensitive PMCA and RT-QuIC assays detected low-level activity. While some macaques developed signs consistent with prion disease, the study does not prove human infection or efficient transmission, and researchers caution that extrapolating to humans is not straightforward. The findings suggest the macaque species barrier may not be absolute under experimental conditions and highlight the need for longer follow-up, better testing, and vigilant surveillance in CWD-endemic areas.
Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh have identified potential adaptation of the H5N1 avian influenza virus in domestic cats, following an outbreak in South Dakota where multiple cats died with neurological and respiratory symptoms. The study found that the H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4.b virus, which has previously infected various bird and mammalian species, can cause severe neurological damage in cats. This raises concerns about the virus's ability to cross species barriers and adapt to mammalian hosts, potentially posing public health risks if cats act as mixing vessels for avian and mammalian influenza viruses.
A new medical study suggests that Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), a deadly and highly contagious disease affecting deer, may have evolved to affect humans who consume tainted meat, with two hunter deaths in Wyoming possibly linked to the disease. While CWD has only been recently found in the northwest corner of Alabama, local hunters are concerned about its potential impact on the deer population and the hunting industry. More research is needed to definitively establish a link between CWD and human health risks.