As SARS-CoV-2 continues to circulate around the world, researchers are warning of another coronavirus, derived from pigs, which could be transmitted to humans.
Discovered in China in 2016, the SADS-CoV coronavirus (swine acute diarrhea syndrome) is considered harmless to humans. In any case, this is what we thought until now. Because a study conducted by researchers from North Carolina and published in the PNAS on October 12, has just demonstrated the opposite. Indeed, they realized that it was able to infect human cells (lung, liver, respiratory tract and intestine). Called SADS-CoV, this coronavirus belongs to the aplhacoronavirus family. Conversely, SARS-CoV-2, responsible for the Covid-19 pandemic, is one of the beta-coronaviruses. However, alphacoronaviruses are just as virulent as beta-coronaviruses. “While many researchers are focusing on a potential emergence of beta-coronaviruses like SARS and MERS, alpha-coronaviruses could prove to be an equally, if not more, threat to human health, given their ability to rapidly pass ‘species to species,’ warns Ralph Baric, professor of epidemiology at the University of North Carolina and co-author of the study.
A very virulent coronavirus for pork
SADS-CoV causes acute diarrhea and vomiting in pigs. The mortality rate can reach 90% in piglets less than 5 days old. This coronavirus therefore mainly affects the intestines while SARS-CoV-2 mainly affects the lungs. In humans, diarrhea and vomiting are responsible for severe dehydration which can lead to death. That said, even if this remains to be confirmed, remdesivir, a treatment prescribed in particular for severe forms of Ebola and SARS-CoV-2, could prove to be effective. Case to be continued …
