INVESTIGADORES
DAMIANI Armando Mario
artículos
Título:
A potentially fatal mix of herpes in zoos
Autor/es:
GREENWOOD AD, TSANGARAS K, HO SY, SZENTIKS CA, NIKOLIN VM, MA G, DAMIANI A, EAST ML, LAWRENZ A, HOFER H, OSTERRIEDER N
Revista:
CURRENT BIOLOGY
Editorial:
CELL PRESS
Referencias:
Lugar: United States; Año: 2012 p. 1727 - 1731
ISSN:
0960-9822
Resumen:
Pathogens often have a limited host range, but some can
opportunistically jump to new species. Anthropogenic activities
that mix reservoir species with novel, hence susceptible,
species can provide opportunities for pathogens
to spread beyond their normal host range. Furthermore,
rapid evolution can produce new pathogens by mechanisms
such as genetic recombination. Zoos unintentionally
provide pathogens with a high diversity of species from
different continents and habitats assembled within a
confined space. Institutions alert to the problem of pathogen
spread to unexpected hosts can monitor the emergence of
pathogens and take preventative measures [3]. However,
asymptomatic infections can result in the causative pathogens
remaining undetected in their reservoir host. Furthermore,
pathogen spread to unexpected hosts may remain
undiagnosed if the outcome of infection is limited, as in
the case of compromised fertility, or if more severe
outcomes are restricted to less charismatic species that
prompt only limited investigation. We illustrate this problem
here with a recombinant zebra herpesvirus infecting charismatic
species including zoo polar bears over at least four
years. The virus may cause fatal encephalitis and infects at
least five mammalian orders, apparently without requiring
direct contact with infected animals