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. 2021 Jun 3;11(6):1663.
doi: 10.3390/ani11061663.

SARS-CoV-2, a Threat to Marine Mammals? A Study from Italian Seawaters

Tania Audino  1 , Carla Grattarola  1 , Cinzia Centelleghe  2 , Simone Peletto  1 , Federica Giorda  1   3 , Caterina Lucia Florio  1 , Maria Caramelli  1 , Elena Bozzetta  1 , Sandro Mazzariol  2 , Giovanni Di Guardo  4 , Giancarlo Lauriano  5 , Cristina Casalone  1
Affiliations

SARS-CoV-2, a Threat to Marine Mammals? A Study from Italian Seawaters

Tania Audino et al. Animals (Basel). .

Abstract

Zoonotically transmitted coronaviruses were responsible for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), causing the dramatic Coronavirus Disease-2019 (CoViD-19) pandemic, which affected public health, the economy, and society on a global scale. The impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic permeated into our environment and wildlife as well; in particular, concern has been raised about the viral occurrence and persistence in aquatic and marine ecosystems. The discharge of untreated wastewaters carrying infectious SARS-CoV-2 into natural water systems that are home to sea mammals may have dramatic consequences on vulnerable species. The efficient transmission of coronaviruses raises questions regarding the contributions of virus-receptor interactions. The main receptor of SARS-CoV-2 is Angiotensin Converting Enzyme-2 (ACE-2), serving as a functional receptor for the viral spike (S) protein. This study aimed, through the comparative analysis of the ACE-2 receptor with the human one, at assessing susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 for different species of marine mammals living in Italian waters. We also determined, by means of immunohistochemistry, ACE-2 receptor localization in the lung tissue from different cetacean species, in order to provide a preliminary characterization of ACE-2 expression in the marine mammal respiratory tracts. Furthermore, to evaluate if and how Italian wastewater management and coastal exposition to extreme weather events may led to susceptible marine mammal populations being exposed to SARS-CoV-2, geomapping data were carried out and overlapped. The results showed the potential SARS-CoV-2 exposure for marine mammals inhabiting Italian coastal waters, putting them at risk when swimming and feeding in specific risk areas. Thus, we highlighted the potential hazard of the reverse zoonotic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection, along with its impact on marine mammals regularly inhabiting the Mediterranean Sea, while also stressing the need for appropriate action in order to prevent further damage to specific vulnerable populations.

Keywords: ACE-2; Italian wastewater management species; SARS-CoV-2; marine mammals.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure A1
Figure A1
UWWTD agglomerations for big cities/dischargers by treatment type. European Environmental Agency thematic page (https://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/water/european-waters/water-use-and-environmental-pressures/uwwtd) (accessed on 3 May 2021).
Figure A2
Figure A2
UWWTD plants by treatment type. European Environmental Agency thematic page (https://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/water/european-waters/water-use-and-environmental-pressures/uwwtd) (accessed 3 May 2021).
Figure A3
Figure A3
UWWTD plants equipped with additional polishing treatment steps. European Environmental Agency thematic page (https://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/water/european-waters/water-use-and-environmental-pressures/uwwtd) (accessed 3 May 2021). The dots representing the plants in the map are coloured according to the treatment type.
Figure A4
Figure A4
Italian hydrogeological risk map.
Figure 1
Figure 1
Species and risky areas.
Figure 2
Figure 2
ACE-2 immunohistochemical staining in the lungs of a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). Positive immunoreactivity within type I pneumocytes from the alveolar respiratory epithelium and in alveolar macrophages. ACE-2 immunohistochemistry, Mayer’s hematoxylin counterstain, and 10× objectives
Figure 3
Figure 3
ACE-2 immunohistochemical staining in the lungs of a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). Positive immunoreactivity within type I pneumocytes from the alveolar respiratory epithelium and in alveolar macrophages. ACE-2 immunohistochemistry, Mayer’s hematoxylin counterstain, and 20× objectives
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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