From the published genomic analysis, two types of coronavirus are circulating in the population—type S and type L. Type S is the older strain, and the dominant strain of coronavirus in Washington State and on the West Coast. Type L is newer and more transmissible strain; and is the dominant type of coronavirus in Italy, New York City, and Brazil. Researchers have not determined if the strain impacts severity and mortality, but have shown type L induces a higher viral load. The genomic studies support the coronavirus type S originated in Asia and erupted in Seattle; and caronavirus from Asia evolved in Italy and then other parts of Europe, to become type L.
Chlamydia psittaci is capable of changing viral RNA, in co-infected people and animals/birds, which could explain the evolution and the increased transmissibility and virulence of coronavirus after transmission from China to Italy. The frequency of chlamydia psittaci infection is significantly under estimated because patients are seldom tested for psittacosis, and the chronic diseases known to be caused by chlamydia psittaci are common. Italy has a high rate of rare diseases, and a high rate of chronic diseases, likely caused by bird pathogens. Chronic intracellular pathogens, originating in animals and birds, can trigger a more severe acute disease—and can combine with the coronavirus intracellularly to alter the genetic material of the virus.
It is unclear whether covid-19 testing in the U.S. routinely determines the strain of covid-19 infecting the patient. Could the viral RNA of covid-19 have evolved in Italy, when in contact with underlying pathogens in co-infected patients, including psittacosis? Could the Italian strain have erupted in New York after returning passengers from Europe were crowded into customs at the New York City airport on March 15, 2020?
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