BASEL, Switzerland– A brand-new research study supplies compelling evidence that coronavirus spreads between animals and human beings. Scientists studying 16 mink farms in the Netherlands state that SARS-CoV-2, the infection that causes COVID-19, was not just transmitted from human to mink, but vice versa.
Simply about 9 months into this pandemic, the scientific neighborhood is still unsure about SARS-CoV-2s specific origins. This has been shown among primates, pet dogs, felines, bats, hamsters, rabbits, lions, tigers, and just recently– minks
What makes this study so special? The authors declare its the very first to show tested animal-to-human SARS-CoV-2 transmission.
Strong proof of farm employees contracting COVID from minks.
This research study was performed by a group of Dutch veterinary researchers. For each of the 16 farms studied, scientists carried out a thorough analysis of both the minks on each farm and the people working or living there. Researchers utilize entire genome sequencing for this process, which helps determine the sources of transmission.
Across all 16 farms, a total of 720,000 animals were consisted of in the research study. 97 human beings were checked. Amongst that group, 66 people (67%) showed evidence of a COVID infection.
” Due to longitudinal follow up of the first 4 farms, we have strong evidence that at least two people on those farms were infected by minks. Based on our research study we can not make definite conclusions on the direction of many of the infections, so we do not know the total number of individuals that were contaminated by minks,” the research study reads. “We conclude that initially the infection was presented from people and has actually evolved on mink farms, most likely showing prevalent circulation amongst mink in the very first SARS-CoV-2 mink farms, a number of weeks prior to detection.”
First tested zoonotic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to human beings
A genetic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 samples drawn from infected farm workers was identical to samples taken from minks. Other samples taken from “unassociated SARS-CoV-2 clients living in the vicinity of farms” were not the very same. This highly recommends that people working directly with the minks contracted the coronavirus from those animals.
“Genetic series from each of the contaminated mink farms fell under one of five unique clusters, revealing transmission between different mink farms,” researchers write.
“Additional research study will be required to figure out the routes of transmission. We conclude that a minimum of a few of these staff members are likely to have been infected directly from contaminated mink and consequently explain the first tested zoonotic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to human beings. Close collaboration in between human and animal health departments is necessary for early identification and control of SARS-CoV-2 infections,” the study concludes.
This research is set to be provided at the ESCMID Conference on Coronavirus Disease.
For each of the 16 farms studied, scientists carried out a comprehensive analysis of both the minks on each farm and the people working or living there.” Due to longitudinal follow up of the very first 4 farms, we have strong evidence that at least 2 individuals on those farms were contaminated by minks. “We conclude that initially the infection was introduced from humans and has actually developed on mink farms, most likely reflecting prevalent flow among mink in the very first SARS-CoV-2 mink farms, a number of weeks prior to detection.”
A hereditary analysis of SARS-CoV-2 samples taken from infected farm employees was identical to samples taken from minks. We conclude that at least some of these workers are extremely most likely to have actually been infected directly from infected mink and consequently explain the first proven zoonotic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to people.
