No evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in wild mink (Mustela lutreola and neogale vison) from northern Spain during the first two years of pandemic

Villanueva Saz, S. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Giner, J. ; Palomar, A. M. ; Gómez, M. A. ; Põdra, M. ; Aranda, M. C. ; Jiménez, M. A. ; Lizarraga, P. ; Hernández, R. ; Portillo, A. ; Oteo, J. A. ; Ruíz-Arrondo, I. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Pérez, M. D. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Tobajas, A. P. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Verde, M. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Lacasta, D. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Marteles, D. ; Hurtado-Guerrero, R. ; Santiago, L. ; Ruiz, H. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Fernández, A. (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: The impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on wildlife is largely unevaluated, and extended surveillance of animal species is needed to reach a consensus on the role of animals in the emergence and maintenance of SARS-CoV-2. This infection has been detected in farmed and domestic animals and wild animals, mainly in captivity. The interactions or shared resources with wildlife could represent a potential transmission pathway for the SARS-CoV-2 spill over to other wild species and could lead to health consequences or the establishment of new reservoirs in susceptible hosts. This study evaluated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in European mink (Mustela lutreola) and American mink (Neogale vison) in Spain by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using the receptor binding domain (RBD) of Spike antigen in serum samples and/or by RT-qPCR assays in oropharyngeal and rectal swabs. From January 2020 to February 2022, a total of 162 animals (127 European mink and 35 American mink) with no evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection were included in the study. Antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 were not found in the serum samples analysed (n = 126), nor was the virus amplified by RT-qPCR (n = 160 swabs). Our results suggest that the potential role of wild mink and the European mink bred in captivity and released to the wild as dispersers of SARS-CoV-2 is so far low. However, wildlife surveillance for early detection of human and animal risks should be continued. In this sense, epidemiological monitoring measures, including serology and molecular analysis, are necessary.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.3390/ani12151971

Año: 2022

Publicado en: Animals 12, 15 (2022), 1971 [10 pp.]
ISSN: 2076-2615

Factor impacto JCR: 3.0 (2022)

Categ. JCR: VETERINARY SCIENCES rank: 13 / 144 = 0.09 (2022) - Q1 - T1
Categ. JCR: AGRICULTURE, DAIRY & ANIMAL SCIENCE rank: 12 / 62 = 0.194 (2022) - Q1 - T1

Factor impacto CITESCORE: 4.2 - Veterinary (Q1) - Agricultural and Biological Sciences (Q2)

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 0.684 - Veterinary (miscellaneous) (Q1) - Animal Science and Zoology (Q1)

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/AEI/BFU2016-75633-P
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/AEI/PID2019-105451GB-I00
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/E34-R17
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA-FEDER/B29-17R
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/LMP58-18
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/TB13667
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/ISCIII/COV20-0030
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MCIU-AEI/SAF2017-83120-C2-1-R
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MINECO/CTQ2013-44367-C2-2-P
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MITECO/18MNES002

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Área Sanidad Animal (Dpto. Patología Animal)
Área (Departamento): Área Medicina y Cirugía Animal (Dpto. Patología Animal)
Área (Departamento): Área Tecnología de Alimentos (Dpto. Produc.Animal Cienc.Ali.)