Zoonotic diseases and the value of natural history voucher specimens and collaborative research

Posted on March 12, 2021

During this COVID-19 pandemic, which is having a considerable global impact, it seems relevant to focus people’s attention on zoonotic disease research that is being undertaken in southern Africa, in particular South Africa. You may have heard, or read, that the likely host for the virus, SARS-CoV-2, which causes the disease COVID-19, is considered to have originated in bats before spilling over and reaching the human population. Prior to this pandemic, bats in different parts of the world were already known to be the host for a variety of different viruses (e.g. SARS-related, Marburg, Hendra, Nipah, Rabies, and rabies-related lyssavirus).

However, bear in mind that bats are not the only hosts to viruses; other hosts include a variety of living organisms such as bacteria, plants, and other animals. As people are populating more and more areas of the world, humans are living in closer contact with species that we previously did not have much contact with. This can provide opportunities for viruses that have resided in wild animals for many millions of years to spill over into other species. [read more]

- Author Tedson Nkoana

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