Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural university
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology
Faculty of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine
Course Title: Zoonotic Microbiology and One Health
Course code: MIPA-607
An Assignment on
“SARS( Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) Virus”
Submitted by: Submitted to:
Rubaya Sharmin Jhilik Dr. Md. Kamrul Hassan
Reg. No : 23010823 Associate professor
MS fellow (2nd Department of
semester) Microbiology and
Parasitology
Department of
Microbiology and
Parasitology
SARS(Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) Virus
Definition of SARS:
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is a highly infectious and contagious viral disease
caused by a coronavirus known as SARS-CoV (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
Coronavirus) under the family Coronaviridae. It primarily affects the respiratory system and can
spread quickly from person to person, especially through respiratory droplets when an infected
person coughs or sneezes.
Etiology:
It is caused by SARS-CoV under the family Coronaviridae which is Single-stranded Positive-
sense(ssRNA)RNA virus.
Geographical Distribution:
Initial Outbreak:
o Origin:
-Guangdong Province, China (November 2002)
-Believed to have spread from live animal markets
o Majorly Affected Countries During the 2003 Outbreak:
-China (including Hong Kong) – epicenter of the outbreak, Vietnam, Singapore,
Canada (especially Toronto), Taiwan, Thailand, United States, Malaysia,
Philippines.
Global Impact:
-Total affected countries: Over 30 countries reported cases.
-Total cases reported worldwide (2002–2003): 8,098 confirmed cases, 774 deaths,
Case Fatality Rate (CFR): Approximately 9.6%
o Post-2003 Surveillance: After 2004, no major outbreaks of SARS-CoV have
been [Link] monitoring is maintained due to the potential for re-
emergence, especially from animal reservoirs.
Host:
Natural Host (Primary Reservoir):
-Bats (especially horseshoe bats)
-Bats carry SARS-related coronaviruses without showing symptoms.
-They are considered the natural reservoir of the virus.
Intermediate host: Civet cat, sometime camel, pangolin - Bridge between bats and
humans
Definitive Host: Humans-Final host, shows disease.
Biological properties:
Morphology:
-Shape: Spherical to pleomorphic (varies in shape).Appears round under the electron microscope
-Size: Diameter ranges from 80 to 120 nanometers
-Envelope: Surrounded by a lipid bilayer envelope. The envelope contains several embedded
proteins
-Surface Projections (Spikes): Prominent club-shaped spike (S) glycoproteins protrude from the
surface. These spikes give the virus a “crown-like” appearance (hence the name coronavirus).
Spikes are essential for binding to the ACE2 receptor on human cells.
-Other Structural Proteins:
M protein (membrane): Maintains viral shape and stability
E protein (envelope): Helps in virus assembly and release
N protein (nucleocapsid): Binds the RNA genome and forms the helical core
Nucleocapsid: Helical symmetry. Encloses the positive-sense single-stranded RNA
Staining properties:
SARS-CoV-1 is a virus, not a bacterium, so it does not stain well
with traditional bacterial stains like Gram stain. However, it can be
visualized using special techniques in virology. Such as
Negative Staining (used in electron microscopy): Stains the
background, allowing the virus structure to appear clearly.
Common stains are Phosphotungstic acid, uranyl acetate.
Immunostaining Techniques: Immunofluorescence and
immunohistochemistry can detect viral proteins in tissues using
antibodies tagged with fluorescent dyes or enzymes.
Cultural properties:
SARS-CoV-1, like other coronaviruses, is an obligate intracellular virus, meaning it cannot grow
on artificial media like bacteria. It requires living cells to replicate.
Culture Requirement:
Needs living host cells for growth. Grown in specialized cell cultures in biosafety level 3 (BSL-
3) laboratories due to its pathogenic nature
Common Cell Lines Used:
-Vero E6 cells (derived from African green monkey kidney) – most widely used
-FRhK-4 cells (fetal rhesus monkey kidney cells)
-Human airway epithelial cells – for research
Optimal Conditions for Growth:
-Temperature: ~37°C (human body temperature)
-pH: Neutral (around 7.2–7.4)
-Incubation period: Cytopathic effects (CPE) usually appear in 2–6 days
Cytopathic Effects (CPE):
-Infected cells may show:
-Cell rounding
-Cell detachment
-Syncytia (cell fusion) formation
Zoonotic transmission cycle:
Natural Reservoir Host:
-Bats (especially horseshoe bats)
-Bats carry SARS-like coronaviruses without showing symptoms
-The virus circulates in bat populations naturally
Spillover to Intermediate Host:
-Civet cats (sold in live animal markets in China)
-The virus likely jumped from bats to civets, possibly due to close proximity in wildlife
markets
-Civets became amplifying hosts, increasing virus concentration
Transmission to Humans:
-Humans got infected through direct or indirect contact with infected civet cats (handling,
consumption, or exposure in markets)
. -This event is called zoonotic spillover
Human-to-Human Transmission:
Once in humans, the virus spread rapidly through:
-Respiratory droplets (coughing, sneezing)
-Close contact
-Contaminated surfaces
Risk factor:
-Close Contact with Infected Individuals especially healthcare workers, family members, or
anyone in prolonged proximity to infected patients.
-Exposure to Live Animal Markets, Handling or consuming wild animals like civet cats
increased the risk of initial zoonotic transmission.
-Poor Infection Control in Healthcare Settings such as lack of personal protective equipment
(PPE) and isolation facilities led to rapid spread in hospitals.
Significance in Animal, Human and Environmental health:
-Animal Health: Highlighted the role of wild animals (bats, civets) as reservoirs and intermediate
hosts in zoonotic disease transmission.
-Human Health: Caused severe respiratory illness with high mortality; stressed global healthcare
systems and led to improved outbreak preparedness.
-Environmental Health: Exposed risks of wildlife trade and unsanitary live animal markets,
prompting stricter regulations and environmental surveillance.
Diagnosis:
Sample collection:
-Nasopharyngeal swab, Oropharyngeal swab, Sputum, Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (for
severe cases), Blood (serum or plasma) – for antibody detection
Laboratory Diagnosis:
o RT-PCR:
-Detects viral RNA from respiratory samples (e.g., nasopharyngeal swabs).
o Serological Tests:
. -Detect antibodies (IgM, IgG) in blood for past or recent infection.
o Virus Isolation:
-Culturing the virus in cell lines (e.g., Vero E6) under BSL-3 conditions.
o Chest X-ray/CT Scan:
. -Identifies pneumonia or lung infiltrates typical of SARS.
o Immunofluorescence Assays:
-Detect viral antigens in respiratory tissues using labeled antibodies.
Emergency Management and Preparedness:
Bangladesh Aspect:
Although Bangladesh did not report any confirmed SARS-CoV-1 cases during the 2002–2003
outbreak, the event led to strengthened emergency health measures. The country adopted key
preparedness strategies based on global best practices:
Surveillance and Early Detection:
-Strengthened airport and border screening during outbreaks
-Health desks established at major entry points
-Development of a national early warning and response system for infectious diseases
Healthcare System Readiness:
-Designated isolation units in government hospitals
-Training of healthcare workers on PPE use, infection control, and case management
-Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) formed under DGHS for outbreak investigation
Public Awareness and Risk Communication:
-Government issued health alerts and preventive guidelines
-Use of media and community health workers to spread awareness
-Emphasis on hygiene and respiratory etiquette
WHO Guidance:
The World Health Organization (WHO) provides a standardized framework for countries to
respond to public health emergencies like SARS.
International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005):
-Countries must report unusual public health events to WHO
-Build core capacities for surveillance, response, and communication
Key Preparedness Pillars:
-Surveillance and Laboratory Capacity:
-Detect, report, and confirm cases quickly
Case Management and IPC (Infection Prevention & Control):
-Isolate patients
-Use PPE
-Prevent nosocomial (hospital-acquired) spread
Risk Communication:
-Timely, accurate information to reduce panic and misinformation
Health System Strengthening:
-Ensure availability of trained staff, medical supplies, and hospital beds
Multisectoral Coordination:
-Involve ministries of health, transport, education, law enforcement.
Reference:
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