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Foggin CM, Rosen LE, Henton MM, Buys A, Floyd T, Turner AD, Tarbin J, Lloyd AS, Chaitezvi C, Ellis RJ, Roberts HC, Dastjerdi A, Nunez A, van Vliet AHM, Steinbach F. Pasteurella sp. associated with fatal septicaemia in six African elephants. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6398. [PMID: 37880229 PMCID: PMC10600241 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41987-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The sudden mortality of African elephants (Loxodonta africana) in Botswana and Zimbabwe in 2020 provoked considerable public interest and speculation. Poaching and malicious poisoning were excluded early on in the investigation. Other potential causes included environmental intoxication, infectious diseases, and increased habitat stress due to ongoing drought. Here we show evidence of the mortalities in Zimbabwe as fatal septicaemia associated with Bisgaard taxon 45, an unnamed close relative of Pasteurella multocida. We analyse elephant carcasses and environmental samples, and fail to find evidence of cyanobacterial or other intoxication. Post-mortem and histological findings suggest a bacterial septicaemia similar to haemorrhagic septicaemia caused by P. multocida. Biochemical tests and 16S rDNA analysis of six samples and genomic analysis of one sample confirm the presence of Bisgaard taxon 45. The genome sequence contains many of the canonical P. multocida virulence factors associated with a range of human and animal diseases, including the pmHAS gene for hyaluronidase associated with bovine haemorrhagic septicaemia. Our results demonstrate that Bisgaard taxon 45 is associated with a generalised, lethal infection and that African elephants are susceptible to opportunistically pathogenic Pasteurella species. This represents an important conservation concern for elephants in the largest remaining metapopulation of this endangered species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Laura E Rosen
- Transboundary Epidemiology Analytics, LLC, Alpharetta, GA, USA.
- Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
| | | | - Angela Buys
- Design Biologix, Erasmusrand, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Toby Floyd
- Pathology and Animal Sciences Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency Weybridge, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Andrew D Turner
- Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, The Nothe, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 8UB, UK
| | | | | | | | - Richard J Ellis
- Surveillance and Laboratory Services Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency Weybridge, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Helen C Roberts
- Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs, Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3JR, UK
| | - Akbar Dastjerdi
- Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency Weybridge, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Alejandro Nunez
- Pathology and Animal Sciences Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency Weybridge, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Arnoud H M van Vliet
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7AL, UK
| | - Falko Steinbach
- Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency Weybridge, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7AL, UK
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Wu T. The socioeconomic and environmental drivers of the COVID-19 pandemic: A review. AMBIO 2021; 50:822-833. [PMID: 33507498 PMCID: PMC7841383 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-020-01497-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
In recent decades, there has been an intensification of the socioeconomic and environmental drivers of pandemics, including ecosystem conversion, meat consumption, urbanization, and connectivity among cities and countries. This paper reviews how these four systemic drivers help explain the dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic and other recent emerging infectious diseases, and the policies that can be adopted to mitigate their risks. Land-use change and meat consumption increase the likelihood of pathogen spillover from animals to people. The risk that such zoonotic outbreaks will then spread to become pandemics is magnified by growing urban populations and the networks of trade and travel within and among countries. Zoonotic spillover can be mitigated through habitat protection and restrictions on the wildlife trade. Containing infectious disease spread requires a high degree of coordination among institutions across geographic jurisdictions and economic sectors, all backed by international investment and cooperation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 18 Shuangqing Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100085, China.
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