Susceptibility of different animal species to experimental infection with SARS-CoV-2 (review)

The susceptibility of animal species to SARS-CoV-2, under experimental conditions, is a subject of great interest for the international scientific community. Compared to observational studies of natural disease outbreaks in different animal species, experimental studies based on in silico, in vitro and in vivo research, are important alternatives to evaluate the prediction of potential hosts for SARS-CoV-2 infection. In order to determine the susceptibility of a host species and the risk of acting as a potential animal reservoir, a large number of different animal species, domestic and wild, were experimentally infected with SARS-CoV-2, which were classified as permissive or resistant. Experimental infections have proven to be crucial for clarifying aspects of the pathogenetic mechanism, viral persistence and elimination, immune response, antiviral sensitivity, vaccine production, immunotherapy and improving diagnostic methods. In this article, some experimental infections carried out in different animal species will be reviewed, according to the data from the literature.

Investigation of the role of healthy and sick equids in the COVID-19 pandemic through serological and molecular testing

Horses may act as incidental host and experience silent infection following spillover from humans with COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2-infected humans should avoid close contact with equids during the time of their illness.

Preparation of equine anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin special IgG and special F (ab')2

After immunizing healthy horses with SARS-CoV-2 virus-like particles (VLPs) as immunogens, immunized horse serum was collected. The total IgG in the serum was separated by affinity chromatography, and then digested with pepsin to obtain immunoglobulin F(ab')2, the IgG and F(ab')2 using an immunochro-matographic column that binds to the RBD protein to obtain a highly specific horse Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG and F(ab')2. It's concentration of IgG and F(ab')2 is 2.36 mg/mL and 1.05 mg/mL, whi le the recovery rates were 11% and 4.89%, and the purities of prepared IgG and F(ab')2 were 91% and 96%. Semi-inhibited concentrations of pseudovirus (IC50) were 1.406 g/mL and 0.862 g/mL. These results show that a high purity, specificity, activity of specific IgG and F(ab')2 against SARS-CoV-2 was prepared successfully, which laid a foundation for preparing safe and efficient anti-SARS-CoV-2 therapeutic antibody drugs.

COVID-19 and diffusion of rumors among Arab social media users: reasons and solutions

As the major source of information, social media has outpaced mainstream news channels. In these information overloaded days, differentiating rumors from facts is crucial and difficult. This study aims to explore the respondents' perception of the reasons for spreading rumors related to the Coronavirus on social media. Furthermore, it seeks to look at the respondents' perception of the ways of combating fake news related to the Coronavirus on social media. Lastly, the study attempts to know to what extent the respondents are satisfied with the performance of the media institutions in dealing with the Coronavirus. A cross-sectional survey design was used with a non-probability sample to explore the respondents' perceptions of the above-mentioned aims. A total of 1274 self-selected cases from Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and the United Arab Emirates were investigated. The study finds that all respondents agree with the reasons listed in the survey about spreading rumors related to the Coronavirus on social media, except for the reasons of lacking transparency on behalf of the Ministry of Health and other official bodies and lacking accurate information about the Coronavirus. Moreover, the study confirms the respondents' beliefs that all listed ways effectively combat fake news related to the Coronavirus on social media. Furthermore, the study finds that the respondents are satisfied with the performance of the media institutions in dealing with the Coronavirus in their countries. With these findings, the study significantly contributes to the literature. It may assist various parties, such as the government and media organizations, in making the proper decision to combat the spread of rumors via social media.

Equestrian world during the COVID pandemic

The paper examines the difference between the coronavirus disease in humans (COVID-19) and horses (ECoV). It provides a response to the issue of whether the horses are capable of transferring the contagion to a human and what role horses might have in finding out a medicine for the human coronavirus disease, based upon a study of the most recent scientific discoveries in this respect. Since both viral diseases are very contagious and primary symptomatic treatment, self-isolation, and quarantine of the confirmed cases is recommended up to a discovery of adequate vaccines to prevent their further expansion, the paper also quotes certain experiences and provides advice on how to do business self-sustainably and take care about the horses even in the challenging times of the pandemic.

Quarterly report of investigations of suspected exotic diseases: July to September 2021

Exotic pest and disease investigations are managed and reported by the Ministry for Primary Industries' (MPI's) Diagnostic and Surveillance Directorate. This article presents a summary of investigations of suspect exotic and emerging pests and diseases in New Zealand during the period from July to September 2021.

French animal sectors facing the COVID-19 pandemic

This article offers an analysis of the economic situation of several animal sectors (cow's milk, beef, pork, poultry meat and the equine sector) in France, two years after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Starting from the latest statistical data available for the period 2020 to 2021 and while taking into account historical trajectories, it seeks to highlight how this crisis has had implications for production, prices, consumption, foreign trade and, in the case of the equine sector, the various activities (horse betting, equestrian centres, etc.). The production of agricultural goods was generally little impacted by the health crisis because farmers continued to produce, sometimes despite certain difficulties, such as the lack of labor, temporary loss of outlets, etc. Faced with a significant change in the structure of demand (increase in products purchased by households to the detriment of those favored in out-of-home catering), the sudden measures imposed by the State and the difficulties sometimes encountered in maintaining the number of employees, processors have been able to adapt quickly to provide consumers with the goods demanded. Trade flows were also disrupted in 2020, before picking up again in 2021, according to trends that were ultimately fairly consistent with those preceding the crisis. Under the influence, on the one hand, of the increase in the price of energy (even before the war in Ukraine which began on February 24, 2022) and, on the other hand, fluctuating imports from China into global animal product markets, producer prices increased in late 2021 and early 2022, but this increase is offset by a sharp increase in production costs. In the equine sector, turnover losses were temporarily significant due to the interaction of this sector with the public. After the shock of 2020, and subject to adaptation by the players in the sector, activities are gradually resuming.

Evolutionary analysis of mammalian ACE2 and the key residues involved in binding to the Spike protein revealed potential SARS-CoV-2 hosts

Introduction: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV- 2) spilled over to humans via wild mammals, entering the host cell using angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as receptor through Spike (S) protein binding. While SARS-CoV-2 became fully adapted to humans and globally spread, some mammal species were infected back. The present study evaluated the potential risk of mammals becoming hosts for SARS-CoV-2 through bioinformatics prediction based on ACE2 receptors.

The effects of COVID-19 on equine welfare and the equine industry in 2020

A review on the economic, welfare, and health impacts in horses and the equine sector due to Covid-19 in 2020 was discussed.

How was the corona pandemic perceived by the Romanian business environment?

The Covid crisis has hit all national economies, with some areas of activity being more severely affected than others. Trade credit/supplier credit mechanisms were very common on the market due to the weak capitalization of the economy. Many companies have faced serious financial difficulties, some of which have had to fundamentally restructure their business.

Analysis of cash flows registered by the Romanian commercial bank in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

This research is aimed at analyzing the cash flows, in structure and dynamics, registered by the Romanian Commercial Bank, in the period 2019-2020. Cash flows from operating activities, investment and financing activities are analyzed in evolution at the beginning and end of the reporting period. The macroeconomic impact and the estimated economic contraction, due to the Covid-19 crisis, influenced the bank's activity and financial indicators. The paper also highlights the impact that Romanian Commercial Bank has on the economy, as well as the cost of risk and the quality of the bank's assets. The Covid-19 pandemic put the Romanian banking system in front of unprecedented challenges.