More than 23 million people around the world have been infected with coronavirus, and now a new study indicates that humans aren’t the only species at risk of the virus.
Researchers from the University of California, Davis, have warned that many animals are also vulnerable to Covid-19 – including several critically endangered species.
In the study, the researchers analysed the genomes of 410 species including birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles and mammals.
They focused on the ACE2 receptor – the main cellular receptor for the virus.
In humans, 25 amino acids of the ACE2 protein are important for the virus to bind and gain entry into cells.
(Image: Matt Verdolivo/UC Davis)
Joana Damas, first author of the study, said: “Animals with all 25 amino acid residues matching the human protein are predicted to be at the highest risk for contracting SARS-CoV-2 via ACE2.
“The risk is predicted to decrease the more the species’ ACE2 binding residues differ from humans.”
Worryingly, the results revealed that many of the species potentially vulnerable to coronavirus are listed as ‘critically endangered’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
This includes the Western lowland gorilla, Sumatran orang-utan and Northern white-cheeked gibbon.
(Image: Getty Images/Aurora Open)
Meanwhile, other species at risk include gray whales and bottlenose dolphins, as well as Chinese hamsters.
Thankfully for pet owners, cats were found to only have a medium risk, while dogs and horses were found to be low risk.
Harris Lewin, lead author of the study, said: “The data provide an important starting point for identifying vulnerable and threatened animal populations at risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. We hope it inspires practices that protect both animal and human health during the pandemic.”
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