Novel forensics-inspired molecular approaches have revolutionized species detection in the wild and are particularly useful for tracing endangered or invasive species. These new environmental DNA or RNA (eDNA or eRNA)–based techniques are now being applied to human and animal pathogen surveillance, particularly in aquatic environments. They allow better disease monitoring (presence or absence and geographical spread) and understanding of pathogen occurrence and transmission, benefitting species conservation and, more recently, our understanding of the COVID-19 global human pandemic. In the present article, we summarize the benefits of eDNA-based monitoring, highlighted by two case studies: The first is a fibropapillomatosis tumor-associated herpesvirus (chelonid herpesvirus 5) driving a sea turtle panzootic, and the second relates to eRNA-based detection of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus driving the COVID-19 human pandemic. The limitations of eDNA- or eRNA-based approaches are also summarized, and future directions and recommendations of the field are discussed. Continuous eDNA- or eRNA-based monitoring programs can potentially improve human and animal health by predicting disease outbreaks in advance, facilitating proactive rather than reactive responses.

中文翻译：

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环境 DNA 和 RNA 方法用于监测水生来源的人类和动物病原体的前景和缺陷

受法医启发的新型分子方法彻底改变了野外物种检测，对于追踪濒危或入侵物种特别有用。这些基于环境 DNA 或 RNA（eDNA 或 eRNA）的新技术现在正应用于人类和动物病原体监测，特别是在水生环境中。它们可以更好地监测疾病（存在或不存在以及地理传播）和了解病原体的发生和传播，从而有利于物种保护，以及最近我们对 COVID-19 全球人类大流行的了解。在本文中，我们总结了基于 eDNA 的监测的好处，并通过两个案例研究突出显示：第一个是导致海龟泛兽病的纤维乳头瘤病肿瘤相关疱疹病毒（龟头疱疹病毒 5），第二个涉及基于 eRNA 的检测导致 COVID-19 人类大流行的 SARS-CoV-2 冠状病毒。还总结了基于 eDNA 或 eRNA 的方法的局限性，并讨论了该领域的未来方向和建议。基于 eDNA 或 eRNA 的持续监测计划可以通过提前预测疾病爆发，促进主动而非被动反应，从而潜在地改善人类和动物的健康。