A species jumper is a virus that jumps from a host of one species to another, different species. Species jumpers are a huge threat to new populations because new populations are least likely to have some sort of immunity to the virus. The lack of immunity will threaten the start of a pandemic: “If the virus can jump into a new host species, then none of the population will have ever seen that virus before, and there is the potential to burn through the population in a sudden, explosive pandemic” (Iayork, 2009). Viruses such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), West Nile Virus, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Virus, Sin Nombre Virus, and Avian Influenza are among the category of species jumpers. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (or HIV) is a lentivirus that targets the host’s immune system. It crossed species from chimpanzees (for them it was known as Simian Immunodeficiency Virus) to humans. The West Nile Virus is a virus that caused severe human meningitis or inflammation of the brain and spinal cord and spread from the West Nile District of Uganda. It crosses between mosquitos and humans and is also often carried by birds. SARS is a disease caused by a subset group of viruses known as coronavirus. It has crossed between horseshoe bats, civets, and humans. The Sin Nombre Virus, also known as Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, is a virus that jumped between people and rodents such as mice and rats. The Avian Influenza, also known as the Bird Flu, jumped from birds to humans.
Another example of a recent jumping species is the Ebola Reston virus that was seen in the Philippines in late 2008. Many pigs were dying of an unknown disease, but it turned out that Ebola Reston virus—cousin to the Ebola virus—was killing the pigs. The outbreak was found in pigs from the Philippines, which was the first time an Ebola strain had been indentified in livestock. When a virus jumps to a new host, especially domestic animal, the virus can be more easily transmitted to humans, than from a wild animal to a human. To solve the problem, over 6,500 pigs from the Philippines were slaughtered.
Konkel, L. (n.d.). When Viruses Jump Species. Retrieved May 18, 2015, from http://scienceline.org/2009/03/bio-konkel-ebola-reston-pigs-species/
A species jumper is a virus that jumps from a host of one species to another, different species. Species jumpers are a huge threat to new populations because new populations are least likely to have some sort of immunity to the virus. The lack of immunity will threaten the start of a pandemic: “If the virus can jump into a new host species, then none of the population will have ever seen that virus before, and there is the potential to burn through the population in a sudden, explosive pandemic” (Iayork, 2009). Viruses such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), West Nile Virus, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Virus, Sin Nombre Virus, and Avian Influenza are among the category of species jumpers. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (or HIV) is a lentivirus that targets the host’s immune system. It crossed species from chimpanzees (for them it was known as Simian Immunodeficiency Virus) to humans. The West Nile Virus is a virus that caused severe human meningitis or inflammation of the brain and spinal cord and spread from the West Nile District of Uganda. It crosses between mosquitos and humans and is also often carried by birds. SARS is a disease caused by a subset group of viruses known as coronavirus. It has crossed between horseshoe bats, civets, and humans. The Sin Nombre Virus, also known as Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, is a virus that jumped between people and rodents such as mice and rats. The Avian Influenza, also known as the Bird Flu, jumped from birds to humans.
ReplyDeleteHi Hanna, what is the most common animal host of diseases that jump to human beings? Can you name all the diseases this animal carries?
DeleteAnother example of a recent jumping species is the Ebola Reston virus that was seen in the Philippines in late 2008. Many pigs were dying of an unknown disease, but it turned out that Ebola Reston virus—cousin to the Ebola virus—was killing the pigs. The outbreak was found in pigs from the Philippines, which was the first time an Ebola strain had been indentified in livestock. When a virus jumps to a new host, especially domestic animal, the virus can be more easily transmitted to humans, than from a wild animal to a human. To solve the problem, over 6,500 pigs from the Philippines were slaughtered.
ReplyDeleteKonkel, L. (n.d.). When Viruses Jump Species. Retrieved May 18, 2015, from http://scienceline.org/2009/03/bio-konkel-ebola-reston-pigs-species/