Diagnostic Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Pecon Hellas PC, Dispilio, Kastoria, Greece.
PLoS Pathog. 2021 Sep 7;17(9):e1009883. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009883. eCollection 2021 Sep.
SARS-CoV-2 infection outbreaks in minks have serious implications associated with animal health and welfare, and public health. In two naturally infected mink farms (A and B) located in Greece, we investigated the outbreaks and assessed parameters associated with virus transmission, immunity, pathology, and environmental contamination. Symptoms ranged from anorexia and mild depression to respiratory signs of varying intensity. Although the farms were at different breeding stages, mortality was similarly high (8.4% and 10.0%). The viral strains belonged to lineages B.1.1.218 and B.1.1.305, possessing the mink-specific S-Y453F substitution. Lung histopathology identified necrosis of smooth muscle and connective tissue elements of vascular walls, and vasculitis as the main early key events of the acute SARS-CoV-2-induced broncho-interstitial pneumonia. Molecular investigation in two dead minks indicated a consistently higher (0.3-1.3 log10 RNA copies/g) viral load in organs of the male mink compared to the female. In farm A, the infected farmers were responsible for the significant initial infection of 229 out of 1,000 handled minks, suggesting a very efficient human-to-mink transmission. Subsequent infections across the sheds wherein animals were being housed occurred due to airborne transmission. Based on a R0 of 2.90 and a growth rate equal to 0.293, the generation time was estimated to be 3.6 days, indicative of the massive SARS-CoV-2 dispersal among minks. After the end of the outbreaks, a similar percentage of animals were immune in the two farms (93.0% and 93.3%), preventing further virus transmission whereas, viral RNA was detected in samples collected from shed surfaces and air. Consequently, strict biosecurity is imperative during the occurrence of clinical signs. Environmental viral load monitoring, in conjunction with NGS should be adopted in mink farm surveillance. The minimum proportion of minks that need to be immunized to avoid outbreaks in farms was calculated at 65.5%, which is important for future vaccination campaigns.
新冠病毒感染在水貂中的爆发与动物健康和福利以及公共卫生密切相关。在位于希腊的两个自然感染水貂的农场(A 和 B)中,我们调查了疫情,并评估了与病毒传播、免疫、病理学和环境污染相关的参数。症状从厌食和轻度抑郁到不同强度的呼吸道症状不等。尽管这两个农场处于不同的繁殖阶段,但死亡率相似,均高达 8.4%和 10.0%。病毒株属于谱系 B.1.1.218 和 B.1.1.305,具有水貂特异性的 S-Y453F 取代。肺组织病理学发现,平滑肌和血管壁结缔组织元素的坏死以及血管炎是急性 SARS-CoV-2 诱导的支气管间质性肺炎的主要早期关键事件。对两只死亡水貂的分子调查表明,雄性水貂器官中的病毒载量(0.3-1.3 log10 RNA 拷贝/g)始终高于雌性。在农场 A 中,受感染的农民负责处理的 1000 只水貂中,有 229 只被感染,表明人与水貂之间的传播非常有效。随后,在饲养动物的畜舍中发生了继发感染,这是由于空气传播造成的。根据 R0 值为 2.90 和增长率等于 0.293,估计代时为 3.6 天,表明 SARS-CoV-2 在水貂中大量传播。疫情结束后,两个农场的免疫动物比例相似(93.0%和 93.3%),阻止了进一步的病毒传播,而从畜舍表面和空气中采集的样本中检测到了病毒 RNA。因此,在出现临床症状时,必须严格执行生物安全措施。在水貂养殖场监测中,应采用环境病毒载量监测与 NGS 相结合的方法。为了避免农场爆发疫情,需要免疫的水貂最低比例为 65.5%,这对未来的疫苗接种活动很重要。
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