Coronavirus rips through Dutch mink farms, triggering culls

Enserink, Martin

doi:10.1126/science.368.6496.1169

Cited by 113 publications

(128 citation statements)

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“…The increase in "backyard" small stakeholder animal production in both rural and urban environments provides an important source of high-quality protein and income, but can also serve as a source for zoonotic disease; therefore, it is important to investigate their potential role during SARS-CoV-2 spread (13). Evidence for the involvement of production animals was recently highlighted in The Netherlands where anthroponotic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from humans to farmed mink with subsequent zoonotic transmission to at least two humans from mink has been proposed, further exemplifying the need to identify the potential role of production animals in disease transmission (14).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Susceptibility of domestic swine to experimental infection with SARS-CoV-2

Pickering

Smith

Pinette

et al. 2020

Preprint

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SARS-CoV-2, the agent responsible for COVID-19 has been shown to infect a number of species. The role of domestic livestock and the risk associated for humans in close contact remains unknown for many production animals. Determination of the susceptibility of pigs to SARS-CoV-2 is critical towards a One Health approach to manage the potential risk of zoonotic transmission. Here, pigs undergoing experimental inoculation are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 at low levels. Viral RNA was detected in group oral fluids and nasal wash from at least two animals while live virus was isolated from a pig. Further, antibodies could be detected in two animals at 11 and 13 days post infection, while oral fluid samples at 6 days post inoculation indicated the presence of secreted antibodies. These data highlight the need for additional livestock assessment to better determine the potential role domestic animals may contribute towards the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Susceptibility of domestic swine to experimental infection with SARS-CoV-2

Pickering

Smith

Pinette

et al. 2020

Preprint

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“…Priorities for research to investigate the animal source were discussed by the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) ad hoc Group on COVID-19 at the Human–Animal Interface and were presented at the WHO Global Research and Innovation Forum (February 11–12, 2020) by the president of the OIE Wildlife Working Group ( https://www.oie.int/scientific-expertise/specific-information-and-recommendations/questions-and-answers-on-2019novel-coronavirus/ ). While, in the field setting, cats have shown clinical signs of disease including respiratory and gastrointestinal signs (AP News 2020 ), cats (domestic and large cats), mink, and dogs have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in these field settings, following contact with humans known or suspected to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 (AP News 2020 ; Daly N 2020 ; Enserink 2020 ; Sit et al. 2020 ; https://www.oie.int/scientific-expertise/specific-information-and-recommendations/questions-and-answers-on-2019novel-coronavirus/ ) ( Figure 3 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… 2020 ; https://www.oie.int/scientific-expertise/specific-information-and-recommendations/questions-and-answers-on-2019novel-coronavirus/ ) ( Figure 3 ). While there is no evidence that companion animals are playing an epidemiological role in the spread of human infections with SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-2 infection in farmed minks has been characterized by respiratory disease and an increased mortality rate (Enserink 2020 ). Reports from infected mink farms therefore suggest that, in these environments, there is the possibility for transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from minks to humans (Enserink 2020 ; https://www.oie.int/scientific-expertise/specific-information-and-recommendations/questions-and-answers-on-2019novel-coronavirus/ ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While there is no evidence that companion animals are playing an epidemiological role in the spread of human infections with SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-2 infection in farmed minks has been characterized by respiratory disease and an increased mortality rate (Enserink 2020 ). Reports from infected mink farms therefore suggest that, in these environments, there is the possibility for transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from minks to humans (Enserink 2020 ; https://www.oie.int/scientific-expertise/specific-information-and-recommendations/questions-and-answers-on-2019novel-coronavirus/ ). Studies are underway to better understand the susceptibility of different animal species to SARS-CoV-2 and assess infection dynamics in susceptible animal species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Highly conserved binding region of ACE2 as a receptor for SARS-CoV-2 between humans and mammals

Hayashi

Abiko

Mandai

et al. 2020

Veterinary Quarterly

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Several cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection transmitted from human owners to their dogs have recently been reported. The first ever case of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from a human owner to a domestic cat was confirmed on March 27, 2020. A tiger from a zoo in New York, USA, was also reportedly infected with SARS-CoV-2. It is believed that SARS-CoV-2 was transmitted to tigers from their caretakers, who were previously infected with this virus. On May 25, 2020, the Dutch Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality reported that two employees were infected with SARS-CoV-2 transmitted from minks. These reports have influenced us to perform a comparative analysis among angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) homologous proteins for verifying the conservation of specific protein regions. One of the most conserved peptides is represented by the peptide “353-KGDFR-357 ( H. sapiens ACE2 residue numbering), which is located on the surface of the ACE2 molecule and participates in the binding of SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor binding domain (RBD). Multiple sequence alignments of the ACE2 proteins by ClustalW, whereas the three-dimensional structure of its binding region for the spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 was assessed by means of Spanner, a structural homology modeling pipeline method. In addition, evolutionary phylogenetic tree analysis by ETE3 was used. ACE2 works as a receptor for the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein between humans, dogs, cats, tigers, minks, and other animals, except for snakes. The three-dimensional structure of the KGDFR hosting protein region involved in direct interactions with SARS-CoV-2 spike RBD of the mink ACE2 appears to form a loop structurally related to the human ACE2 corresponding protein loop, despite of the reduced available protein length (401 residues of the mink ACE2 available sequence vs 805 residues of the human ACE2). The multiple sequence alignments of the ACE2 proteins shows high homology and complete conservation of the five amino acid residues: 353-KGDFR-357 with humans, dogs, cats, tigers, minks, and other animals, except for snakes. Where the information revealed from our examinations can support precision vaccine design and the discovery of antiviral therapeutics, which will accelerate the development of medical countermeasures, the World Health Organization recently reported on the possible risks of reciprocal infections regarding SARS-CoV-2 transmission from animals to humans.

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“…However, human SARS-CoV-2 cannot productively infect mice without extensive viral adaptation or introduction of human ACE2 into transgenic animals, and none of the mouse models supports transmission to uninfected mice 10 . Spillover of SARS-CoV-2 to farmed minks, subsequent large-scale mink-to-mink transmission and, in some cases, zoonotic transmission back to humans revealed efficient viral spread among members of the weasel genus without prior adaptation [11][12][13][14] . Although mink farms reported elevated animal mortality and gastrointestinal and respiratory clinical signs 15 , outbreak followup revealed continued intra-colony spread for extended periods of time 14 , suggesting that acute clinical signs in the majority of infected animals may be mild or absent.…”

Section: Main Textmentioning

confidence: 99%

Therapeutic MK-4482/EIDD-2801 Blocks SARS-CoV-2 Transmission in Ferrets

Cox

Wolf

Plemper

2020

Preprint

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The COVID-19 pandemic is having a catastrophic impact on human health. Widespread community transmission has triggered stringent distancing measures with severe socioeconomic consequences. Gaining control of the pandemic will depend on interruption of transmission chains until protective herd immunity arises. Ferrets and related members of the weasel genus transmit SARS-CoV-2 efficiently with minimal clinical signs, resembling spread in the young-adult population. We previously reported an orally efficacious nucleoside analog inhibitor of influenza viruses, EIDD-2801 (or MK-4482), that was repurposed against SARS-CoV-2 and is in phase II/III clinical trials. Employing the ferret model, we demonstrate in this study high SARS-CoV-2 burden in nasal tissues and secretions that coincides with efficient direct-contact transmission. Therapeutic treatment of infected animals with twice-daily MK-4482/EIDD-2801 significantly reduced upper respiratory tract SARS-CoV-2 load and completely suppressed spread to untreated contact animals. This study identifies oral MK-4482/EIDD-2801 as a promising antiviral countermeasure to break SARS-CoV-2 community transmission chains.

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Coronavirus rips through Dutch mink farms, triggering culls

Abstract: Public concerns rise as two workers catch the disease.

Cited by 113 publications

References 0 publications

Susceptibility of domestic swine to experimental infection with SARS-CoV-2

Susceptibility of domestic swine to experimental infection with SARS-CoV-2

Highly conserved binding region of ACE2 as a receptor for SARS-CoV-2 between humans and mammals

Therapeutic MK-4482/EIDD-2801 Blocks SARS-CoV-2 Transmission in Ferrets

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