Li Cixiu, Zhu Wei, Liu Shuqi, Niu Ruiling, Qian Lei, Holmes Edward C, Li Juan, Shi Weifeng
Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Universities of Shandong, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Ji'nan, 250117, Shandong, China.
School of Clinical and Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Ji'nan, 250117, Shandong, China.
Anim Microbiome. 2025 Jun 3;7(1):57. doi: 10.1186/s42523-025-00422-y.
Farmed mink (Neovison vison) is the most common animal species used for fur farming in China. Several viruses identified in mink can be transmitted to humans, including SARS-CoV-2, suggesting that this species could play an important role in zoonotic disease emergence. Characterizing the virus diversity of farmed mink is therefore important for the prevention and mitigation of emerging infectious diseases. We utilized meta-transcriptomic sequencing to determine the enteric viromes of 109 apparently healthy farmed mink from Shandong and Liaoning provinces, China. Using this approach, we identified 34 viruses belonging to 11 viral families/clades. Several important avian- or fish-associated viruses were detected, including astroviruses, caliciviruses, picornaviruses, rotaviruses, parvoviruses, and gyroviruses. Many of these viruses were likely associated with mink diet, indicating that food sources such as uncooked poultry or fish by-products can serve as effective transmission routes of avian and fish viruses to mink. Of particular note, we identified a high prevalence of mink coronavirus in these animals, which is potentially associated with respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses. In sum, our study revealed a diverse range of vertebrate viruses in farmed mink and likely viral transmission to mink via the food chain. Further investigation is necessary to determine the impact of these viruses on mink health and for zoonotic disease preparedness.
养殖水貂（Neovison vison）是中国毛皮养殖中最常用的动物物种。在水貂中发现的几种病毒可传播给人类，包括严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV-2），这表明该物种可能在人畜共患病的出现中发挥重要作用。因此，了解养殖水貂的病毒多样性对于预防和减轻新发传染病至关重要。我们利用宏转录组测序来确定来自中国山东省和辽宁省的109只看似健康的养殖水貂的肠道病毒组。通过这种方法，我们鉴定出属于11个病毒科/进化枝的34种病毒。检测到了几种重要的与禽类或鱼类相关的病毒，包括星状病毒、杯状病毒、小RNA病毒、轮状病毒、细小病毒和环曲病毒。其中许多病毒可能与水貂的饮食有关，这表明未煮熟的家禽或鱼类副产品等食物来源可以作为禽类和鱼类病毒传播给水貂的有效途径。特别值得注意的是，我们在这些动物中发现水貂冠状病毒的高流行率，这可能与呼吸道和胃肠道疾病有关。总之，我们的研究揭示了养殖水貂中存在多种脊椎动物病毒，并且可能通过食物链将病毒传播给水貂。有必要进一步调查这些病毒对水貂健康的影响以及人畜共患病的防范情况。
