SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in Household Domestic Ferrets (Mustela putorius furo)

Giner, Jacobo; Villanueva‐Saz, Sergio; Tobajas, Ana P.; Pérez, María Dolores; González, Ana Isabel; Verde, Maite; Yzuel, Andrés; García‐García, Ana; Taleb, Víctor; Lira‐Navarrete, Erandi; Hurtado‐Guerrero, R.; Pardo, Julián; Santiago, Llipsy; Paño, José Ramón; Ruíz, Héctor; Lacasta, Delia; Fernández, Antonio

doi:10.3390/ani11030667

Cited by 48 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Multiple studies have now demonstrated that ferrets may be directly infected by human-derived SARS-CoV-2 and, following infection, exhibit a nearly 100% transmission rate via direct contact ( 9 , 10 , 18 , 19 , 29 ). Recent reports also describe sporadic cases of natural infection ( 30 , 31 ). However, our data suggest that the initial barrier of human-to-ferret transmission may be higher than relevant to most household pets.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We found no evidence of SARS-CoV-2 transmission to ferrets, a finding at odds with the high transmission rates observed in laboratory and mink farm settings. Further evidence of natural transmission to household ferrets has exhibited a lower prevalence than those seen in dogs and cats, with only one currently confirmed case worldwide ( 15 , 30 , 31 ). To investigate whether viral or host genetics played a role in this discrepancy, we utilized available data for analysis and biologically relevant hypothesis generation using computational tools.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Host barriers to SARS-CoV-2 demonstrated by ferrets in a high-exposure domestic setting

Sawatzki

Hill

Puryear

et al. 2021

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) are mustelids of special relevance to laboratory studies of respiratory viruses and have been shown to be susceptible to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and onward transmission. Here, we report the results of a natural experiment where 29 ferrets in one home had prolonged, direct contact and constant environmental exposure to two humans with symptomatic disease, one of whom was confirmed positive for SARS-CoV-2. We observed no evidence of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from humans to ferrets based on viral and antibody assays. To better understand this discrepancy in experimental and natural infection in ferrets, we compared SARS-CoV-2 sequences from natural and experimental mustelid infections and identified two surface glycoprotein Spike (S) mutations associated with mustelids. While we found evidence that angiotensin-converting enzyme II provides a weak host barrier, one mutation only seen in ferrets is located in the novel S1/S2 cleavage site and is computationally predicted to decrease furin cleavage efficiency. These data support the idea that host factors interacting with the novel S1/S2 cleavage site may be a barrier in ferret SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and that domestic ferrets are at low risk of natural infection from currently circulating SARS-CoV-2. We propose two mechanistically grounded hypotheses for mustelid host adaptation of SARS-CoV-2, with possible effects that require additional investigation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Host barriers to SARS-CoV-2 demonstrated by ferrets in a high-exposure domestic setting

Sawatzki

Hill

Puryear

et al. 2021

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…The spread of SARS-CoV-2 throughout vast human populations worldwide has resulted in reports of transmission to animals living in close association with infected people [ 5 , 10 ]. Indeed, SARS-CoV-2 has been detected in pet and stray cats ( Felis silvestris catus ) [ 5 ], in tigers ( Panthera tigris ) and lions ( Panthera leo ) from zoos [ 11 ], in domestic ferrets ( Mustela putorius furo ) [ 12 , 13 ] and also in American mink ( Neovison vison ) on fur farms [ 14 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First Description of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Two Feral American Mink (Neovison vison) Caught in the Wild

Aguiló-Gisbert

Padilla-Blanco

Lizana

et al. 2021

Animals

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Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causal agent of COVID-19, is considered a pathogen of animal origin that is mainly transmitted from human to human. Several animal species can be naturally or experimentally infected by SARS-CoV-2, with compelling evidence that mink is highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Human-to-mink infection cases have been reported and there are also suggestions that mink-to-human infection occurs. Mink infections have been reported to date only on fur farms, except for one infected free- ranging wild mink near a Utah (USA) fur farm, which suggests a transmission pathway from farms to wild mink. We now report the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in 2 of 13 feral dark brown American mink (Neovison vison) trapped in the Valencian Community (Eastern Spain), during an invasive species trapping campaign. They were trapped in riverbeds in sparsely inhabited rural areas known to harbor self-sustained feral mink populations. The closest fur farm is about 20 km away. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected by two-step RT-PCR in these animals’ mesenteric lymph nodes and was confirmed by sequencing a 397-nucleotide amplified region of the S gene, yielding identical sequences in both animals. A molecular phylogenetic analysis was run on this sequence, which was found to correspond to the consensus SARS-CoV-2 sequence from Wuhan. Our findings appear to represent the first example of SARS-CoV-2 acquired in the wild by feral mink in self-sustained populations.

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“…The high seroprevalence and SARS‐CoV‐2 detection rates in cats and to some extent in dogs indicate that these animals can be infected with SARS‐CoV‐2 ( Fritz et al, 2021 ; Hamer et al, 2020 ; Hosie et al, 2021 ; Leroy et al, 2020 ). Recent reports also describe sporadic cases of natural infection in household pet ferrets ( Mustela putorius furo ) in Slovenia and Spain ( Giner et al, 2021 ; OIE, 2021a ; ProMED-mail, 2020d ). These reports suggest that the impact of SARS‐CoV‐2 infections on domestic animal health is unclear.…”

Section: Sars-cov-2 Reverse Zoonosis and Secondary Zoonosismentioning

confidence: 99%

Zoonotic and Reverse Zoonotic Transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2

et al. 2021

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The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the first known pandemic caused by a coronavirus. Its causative agent, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), appears to be capable of infecting different mammalian species. Recent detections of this virus in pet, zoo, wild, and farm animals have compelled inquiry regarding the zoonotic (animal-to-human) and reverse zoonotic (human-to-animal) transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 with the potential of COVID-19 pandemic evolving into a panzootic. It is important to monitor the global spread of disease and to assess the significance of genomic changes to support prevention and control efforts during a pandemic. An understanding of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemiology provides opportunities to prevent the risk of repeated re-infection of humans and requires a robust One Health-based investigation. This review paper describes the known properties and the existing gaps in scientific knowledge about the zoonotic and reverse zoonotic transmissibility of the novel virus SARS-CoV-2 and the COVID-19 disease it causes.

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SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in Household Domestic Ferrets (Mustela putorius furo)

Cited by 48 publications

References 35 publications

Host barriers to SARS-CoV-2 demonstrated by ferrets in a high-exposure domestic setting

Host barriers to SARS-CoV-2 demonstrated by ferrets in a high-exposure domestic setting

First Description of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Two Feral American Mink (Neovison vison) Caught in the Wild

Zoonotic and Reverse Zoonotic Transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2

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