Surveillance and control of SARS-CoV-2 in mustelids: An evolutionary perspective.

Adriana V Díaz,Joanne P Webster,Martin Walker

doi:10.1111/eva.13310

Abstract

The relevance of mustelids in SARS‐CoV‐2 transmission has become increasingly evident. Alongside experimental demonstration of airborne transmission among ferrets, the major animal model for human respiratory diseases, transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2 within‐ and/or between‐commercial mink farms has occurred and continues to occur. The number of mink reared for the luxury fur trade is approximately 60.5 million, across 36 mustelid‐farming countries. By July 2021, SARS‐CoV‐2 outbreaks have been reported in 12 of these countries, at 412 European and 20 North American mink farms. Reverse zoonotic transmission events (from humans to mink) have introduced the virus to farms with subsequent extensive mink‐to‐mink transmission as well as further zoonotic (mink‐to‐human) transmission events generating cases among both farm workers and the broader community. Overcrowded housing conditions inherent within intensive mink farms, often combined with poor sanitation and welfare, both guarantee spread of SARS‐CoV‐2 and facilitate opportunities for viral variants, thereby effectively representing biotic hubs for viral transmission and evolution of virulence. Adequate preventative, surveillance and control measures within the mink industry are imperative both for the control of the current global pandemic and to mitigate against future outbreaks.

Highlights

Pathogens are capable of rapid evolution in response to human activities (Ewald, 1998)
The third emergent human coronaviruses (hCoVs), severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS- CoV-2), was identified in a cluster of atypical pneumonia cases connected to a live animal market in Wuhan, Central China, at the end of 2019 (Chen et al, 2020; Lu et al, 2020)
Since the first COVID-19 cases identified in mink in April 2020, over a year later, the number of mink farms reporting infection with SARS-CoV-2 by country is as follows: 69 in the Netherlands (OIE, 2021b); 290 in Denmark (Boklund et al, 2021; Fenollar et al, 2021); eight in Spain (OIE, 2021b); 17 in the USA (APHIS & USDA, 2021); 13 in Sweden (OIE, 2021b); one in Italy (OIE, 2021b); 23 in Greece (OIE, 2021b); one in France (OIE, 2021b); four in Lithuania (OIE, 2021b); three in Canada (OIE, 2021b); two in Poland (OIE, 2021b); and one in Latvia (OIE, 2021b)

Summary

Introduction

Pathogens are capable of rapid evolution in response to human activities (Ewald, 1998). Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 among American mink (Neovison vison), farmed for its fur (see Figure 1 and Box 2), is both highly efficient and prevalent, with ongoing outbreaks reported (up to 6 July 2021) in commercial units from 12 countries, in order of first occurrence: the Netherlands, Denmark, Spain, USA, Sweden, Italy, Greece, France, Lithuania, Canada, Poland and Latvia (OIE, 2021b).

Results

Conclusion