Prepared by:<br />Prof. Dr. Younis Abdul-Razzaq Al-Khafaji<br /><br />To detect the emergence of new viral diseases or outbreaks, we need to monitor the spread of viruses in humans and other animals using rapid, sensitive, low-cost, and broad-spectrum methodologies.<br /><br />One Health Concept "One Health" is a concept that integrates (1) human health, (2) animal health, and (3) environmental health. According to this concept, any situation that impacts one of these three components will affect the health of all. Emerging and re-emerging diseases can be identified as disruptions within the "One Health" framework. These diseases may emerge as a result of environmental interventions due to human activities. For example, habitat disruption can lead wildlife to approach or even live in urban areas, creating optimal conditions for the transmission of pathogens from these animals to humans. In other words, the appearance of a disease can be attributed to a lack of synergy between various social and environmental factors.<br /><br />When a new zoonotic disease appears in a human population, it is crucial to quickly detect and identify this new pathogen. Early detection of such cases is an important way to prevent disease outbreaks and avoid epidemics. For instance, if HIV transmission in Africa had been detected immediately after the virus passed from primates to humans, the AIDS pandemic might have been prevented. Similarly, to prevent the re-emergence of a viral disease in human populations, early identification, monitoring, and study of viruses circulating among humans are vital.<br /><br />Where Should Monitoring Be Focused?<br /><br />Monitoring should primarily target populations living near habitats of animals that are considered important viral reservoirs (such as rodents, bats, pigs, and monkeys). Individuals living or working near animal breeding areas or slaughterhouses, where conditions are ideal for the emergence of viral diseases due to the interaction between humans and non-human animals, should also be a focus. Additionally, populations living in areas infested with viral vectors, especially mosquitoes, should be monitored. Furthermore, this monitoring should also extend to patients seeking health services with symptoms indicative of viral infections.<br /><br />However, the practical challenge lies in the lack of the tools and methodologies necessary to implement such monitoring effectively.<br /><br />Recent Advances: SMAvirusChip<br /><br />Recently, a Brazilian research team developed a methodology called SMAvirusChip, which enables the testing of over 400 viruses transmitted by arthropods and small mammals using a single biological sample. It’s important to note that SMAvirusChip can identify viruses that are a constant concern for public health authorities (such as Chikungunya, Dengue, Zika, etc.), or those that are of interest to the scientific community, such as the Sabia and Rossi viruses (both of which have been identified in human patients, but still lack sufficient genetic/environmental information).<br /><br />This tool is based on oligonucleotide probes, which allows for the accurate detection of viruses that are often difficult to diagnose using traditional immunoassay methods due to antibody cross-reactivity. For example, immunoassays used to detect the Zika virus might yield inconclusive results due to cross-reactivity with antibodies from other viruses in the same family, such as Dengue or Yellow Fever.<br /><br />The ability to detect a broad range of viruses is considered a unique feature of SMAvirusChip. However, its widespread use still requires evaluation. The cost of applying this technology could be a significant barrier, especially in developing countries. Nevertheless, this tool represents a promising technology that could be used for monitoring the circulation of viruses between humans and other animal species.<br /><br />The Need for Broad-Spectrum Pathogen Detection Tools<br /><br />Developing tools to quickly, efficiently, and cost-effectively identify a wide spectrum of viral pathogens is a global need. These tools would have primary applications in healthcare services in tropical developing countries. Knowing the pathogens circulating in a specific population would allow for the detection of even small changes in their transmission patterns. There are several aspects of such surveillance:<br /><br />Diagnostic Support: These methodologies would help diagnose viral diseases where the causative agent often remains unidentified. Even when identifying pathogens doesn’t directly influence clinical outcomes, the data would have significant epidemiological value.<br /><br />Viral Monitoring: These tools would enable continuous monitoring of the different viruses circulating among human populations.<br /><br />Blood Bag Screening: Such tools could be used to screen blood bags in healthcare settings.<br /><br />Viral Diversity Studies: In viral ecology research, these tools would assist researchers targeting viral diversity among non-human animals. In these various contexts, the scope of pathogens detected in research activities would expand.<br /><br />Continuous Monitoring as a "Sustained Intervention" Strategy<br /><br />Ongoing surveillance of virus spread in high-risk areas can be seen as a strategy within the scope of "sustained interventions." This term was defined by Matua et al. as strategies "implemented at the individual, community, and institutional levels after an outbreak has ended, and continue thereafter, i.e., between epidemic periods." The authors recommended applying "sustained interventions" in the context of an Ebola outbreak in Africa, and we believe they could be useful in other situations, even before a significant number of infectious cases emerge, to monitor endemic, emerging, and re-emerging diseases. The core of "sustained interventions" is maintaining preparedness among high-risk populations and institutions, always being aware of the risks of Ebola re-emerging. In our view, these definitions are applicable not only to Ebola but also to many other viral diseases.<br /><br />Conclusion<br /><br />Viruses with the potential to cause new epidemics are already "out there." Monitoring the spread of viruses in biological samples (human and non-human) is crucial for the early detection of potential epidemic outbreaks. The need for such surveillance is particularly high in developing tropical countries where humans often live in close proximity to many domesticated and wild animals. The proposed monitoring would be most effective if implemented using samples from (1) disease vectors, (2) stable viral reservoirs, (3) migratory animals such as birds, and (4) humans. Together, data collected from humans and other animals (wild, livestock, and pets) would reveal viral hotspots, enabling the implementation of measures to control the spread of viral pathogens.<br /><br />Such a strategy could reduce not only health problems but also economic losses due to animal diseases affecting industries like food production. It’s important to note that only by developing methodologies capable of detecting a broad range of viruses can this type of surveillance be effectively carried out. In tropical developing countries like Brazil, this type of initiative should be encouraged not only to support technological development but also as a public health strategy and as an effort to uphold the "One Health" concept.<br /><br />University of Al-Mustaqbal The First in Iraq<br /><br /><br/><br/><a href=https://www.linkedin.com/company/college-of-health-medical-techniques/posts/ target=_blank>linkedin College of Health and Medical Techniques</a>