key: cord-0760011-34m7y2l1 authors: Nabi, Ghulam; Khan, Suliman title: Novel coronavirus transmission to water bodies; risk of COVID-19 pneumonia to aquatic mammals date: 2020-05-26 journal: Environ Res DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109732 sha: c6e7e7e2bb3eef46e7c5b5df33fc34f956c5756c doc_id: 760011 cord_uid: 34m7y2l1 [Figure: see text] The coronavirus subfamily; Coronavirinae is divided into four genera, alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta (α, β, γ, and δ) coronavirus. The α and β coronaviruses infect multiple species of mammals including humans, γ coronaviruses are found in birds and aquatic mammals including bottlenose dolphin and beluga whale, while δ coronaviruses are found both in birds and mammals including pigs (Durães-Carvalho et al. 2015; . There are reports that α coronaviruses could also infect harbor seals . The β coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) bind to the host ACE2 through its receptor binding domain (RBD) and regulate both human-to-human and cross-species transmissions of SARS-CoV-2 . Comparing the key amino acids in ACE2 for the binding ability to RBD in different species, ACE2 proteins from Cetacea, Primates, Cricetidae, and Bovidae were found capable to recognize RBD of SARS CoV 2 by sustaining most of the key residues in ACE2 to connect with the SARS CoV 2 RBD (Luan et al. 2020 ). This analysis indicates the vulnerability of aquatic mammals to COVID-19 infection. Several cruise ships have confirmed hundreds of COVID-19 cases onboard (Mallapaty, 2020) and could have possibly shed the SARS CoV 2 to the open waters. Similarly, the SARS CoV 2 can survive on surgical masks and other plastic materials for several days (Chin et al. 2020) . The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has increased the demands for masks and gloves, which have been found floating in the open waters after disposal (Boyle, 2020) . Globally, these protective covering as marine debris can introduce the SARS CoV 2 from human to aquatic mammals. Furthermore, SARS-CoV-2 via stools can enter into the sewage system and survive for several days . The sewage especially in developing countries directly go to the ocean without treatment and can transmit the virus to the ocean. 1813 , 1836 , and 1869 -70 (McConnell, 1985 , deaths of at least 1000 common seals during 1918 in Iceland (Dietz et al. 1989 ), death of 445 harbor seals along the New England seaboard in the United States during 1979 -1980 (Geraci et al. 1982 1984) , and the death of 28 harbor porpoises died between 1990 and 1995 on the coasts of England and Wales (Kirkwood et al. 1997 (Grachev et al. 1989; , and mass deaths of striped dolphins (Stenellacoeruleoalba) in the Mediterranean Sea (Lipscomb et al. 1996) and Spanish Mediterranean in 1990 (Duignan et al. 1992) . Furthermore, in 2007, there was a recurrence of the virus which affected over 100 striped dolphins ) and 60 long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) (Fernandez et al. 2008) . Nonetheless, pneumonia which can be caused by viruses or bacteria is the leading cause of death in dolphins throughout the world (Rubio-Guerri et al. 2013). In summary, there is a need to increase surveillance on cetaceans and screen the individuals for COVID-19 infection if there is mass stranding or unusual behaviour. Special attention is required to the critically endangered, endangered, and other vulnerable populations. Further studies are needed in cetaceans to provide deeper insight into host specificity, as they are exposed continuously to escalating anthropogenic stressors. The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. Orkney in 1813 , 1836 , and 1869 -70 (McConnell, 1985 , deaths of at least 1000 common seals during 1918 in Iceland (Dietz et al. 1989) , death of 445 harbor seals along the New England seaboard in the United States during 1979 -1980 (Geraci et al. 1982 1984) , and the death of 28 harbor porpoises died between 1990 and 1995 on the coasts of England and Wales (Kirkwood et al. 1997 (Grachev et al. 1989; , and mass deaths of striped dolphins (Stenellacoeruleoalba) in the Mediterranean Sea (Lipscomb et al. 1996) and Spanish Mediterranean in 1990 (Duignan et al. 1992) . Furthermore, in 2007, there was a recurrence of the virus which affected over 100 striped dolphins ) and 60 long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) (Fernandez et al. 2008 In summary, there is a need to increase surveillance on cetaceans and screen the individuals for COVID-19 infection if there is mass stranding or unusual behaviour. Special attention is required to the critically endangered, endangered, and other vulnerable populations. Further studies are needed in cetaceans to provide deeper insight into host specificity, as they are exposed continuously to escalating anthropogenic stressors. The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. 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