Things are getting worse as the ongoing Wuhan coronavirus outbreak has spread to 21 countries, sickened more than 7,800 people, and killed 170 people so far.
While scientists are leaving no stone unturned in finding out the exact origin of the virus, a new study published in the journal Lancet has provided a clue to the virus’ source. The study has pointed out that bats are the most likely hosts.
The study researchers looked at 10 genome sequences of the mysterious new coronavirus, aka 2019-nCoV, which were obtained from nine Chinese patients who were affected by the virus.
All 10 of the genome sequences obtained from the nine patients were extremely similar, with 99.98 percent of the same genetic sequenced, suggesting that the new virus
They found that all 10 of the genome sequences were extremely similar — they shared more than 99.98% of the same genetic sequence, the authors said. This suggests the virus hopped to humans very recently.
The authors explained that if the hopping of the virus had happened long ago, the genetic sequences would have been different because viruses often mutate and evolve at a quick rate.
Study co-author Weifeng Shi said, “It is striking that the sequences of 2019-nCoV described here from different patients were almost identical. This finding suggests that 2019-nCoV originated from one source within a very short period and was detected relatively rapidly.”
2019-nCoV has already affected over 7,800 people and killed 170 despite jumping to humans only recently. Most cases occurred in people who visited or worked at the Huanan seafood market in Wuhan, a city of central China, where several wild animals are sold.
In order to find the virus’ source of origin, the authors compared the virus’ genetic sequences with those in a library of viral sequences. They discovered that most closely related viruses were two coronaviruses originated in bats, sharing 88 percent of their genetic sequence with that of the new coronavirus.
They also found that SARS shared about 79 percent of the new coronavirus’ genetic sequence and MERS about 50 percent.
Considering these findings, the researchers said bats could be the origin of the 2019-nCoV. However, it has been found that no bats were sold in the Huanan seafood market, suggesting that there could some other animals responsible for transmitting the virus to humans.
Another study co-author Guizhen Wu said, “It seems likely that another animal host is acting as an intermediate host between bats and humans.”
The researchers wrote, “Overall, the outbreak of 2019-nCoV again highlights the hidden virus reservoir in wild animals and their potential to occasionally spill over into human populations.”
Last week, experts used the samples of the new virus to determine the source of origin and believed that snakes – the Chinese krait and the Chinese cobra – could be the original source of the new coronavirus.
They found that the genetic codes of the new virus were similar to the genetic codes found in snakes. https://www.myhealthyclick.com/coronavirus-outbreak-wuhan-sealed-off-snakes-could-be-the-original-source-of-virus/
