In: Biology
Imagine you are tasked to protect the Arizonian mountain lion from going extinct as a result of COVID-19 infections. What actions can you take to limit interspecific transmission (between humans and lions), and intraspecific transmission? List one potential intervention for each category, using a full sentence with an explanation on the desired effect.
Interspecific transmission is when pathogen is transferred from one species to another species. When the pathogen transferes from humans to lions, it is interspecific transmission. The actions we can take is to prevent humans and lions coming in contact with one another. Since Corona virus is transmitted from droplets that come out through saliva and mucus, maintaining distance is important. Zoos, sanctualries are the places where the two species have the possibilities of coming in contact with one another. So reducing the lion and human encounter is important in reducing the lions getting infected by the disease. Care takers of lions in Zoos should consider maintaining the lions not directly coming in to coantact. People need to be educated about its transmission from humans to lions. Unless the awareness is increased necesary action to stop interspecific transmission can't be stopped.
Intraspecific transmission is when the pathogen is transmitted from one lion to another. That means with in the same species if the transmission occurs it is intraspecific transmission. This can be stopped by keeping the animals in different cages as far as the zoos are concerned. Not letting the animals meet as long as the disease is in the population. The Corona virus causing COVID-19 is highly infectious. It remains on the surfaces for some period. So keeping the surroundings clean and keeping the anumals separate always is the only way to contain the spread of the disease.