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Literature detail

Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 on mink farms between humans and mink and back to humans.

Bas B Oude Munnink1 Reina S Sikkema2 David F Nieuwenhuijse2 Robert Jan Molenaar3 Emmanuelle Munger2 Richard Molenkamp2 Arco van der Spek4 Paulien Tolsma5 Ariene Rietveld6 Miranda Brouwer6 Noortje Bouwmeester-Vincken7 Frank Harders8 Renate Hakze-van der Honing8 Marjolein C A Wegdam-Blans9 Ruth J Bouwstra3 Corine GeurtsvanKessel2 Annemiek A van der Eijk2 Francisca C Velkers10 Lidwien A M Smit11 Arjan Stegeman10 Wim H M van der Poel8 Marion P G Koopmans2
Affiliations 11 institutions
  1. Department of Viroscience, Erasmus MC, WHO Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Rotterdam, Netherlands. [email protected].
  2. Department of Viroscience, Erasmus MC, WHO Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
  3. Royal GD, Deventer, Netherlands.
  4. Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA), Utrecht, Netherlands.
  5. Municipal Health Services GGD Brabant-Zuidoost, Eindhoven, Netherlands.
  6. Municipal Health Services GGD Hart voor Brabant, 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.
  7. Municipal Health Services GGD Limburg-Noord, Venlo, Netherlands.
  8. Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, Netherlands.
  9. Stichting PAMM, Veldhoven, Netherlands.
  10. Division of Farm Animal Health, Department of Population Health Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.
  11. Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.
PMID 33172935 2021 Science eng ppublish
PubMed DOI Browse context

Article

Publication summary

Animal experiments have shown that nonhuman primates, cats, ferrets, hamsters, rabbits, and bats can be infected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In addition, SARS-CoV-2 RNA has been detected in felids, mink, and dogs in the field. Here, we describe an in-depth investigation using whole-genome sequencing of outbreaks on 16 mink farms and the humans living or working on these farms. We conclude that the virus was initially introduced by humans and has since evolved, most likely reflecting widespread circulation among mink in the beginning of the infection period, several weeks before detection. Despite enhanced biosecurity, early warning surveillance, and immediate culling of animals in affected farms, transmission occurred between mink farms in three large transmission clusters with unknown modes of transmission. Of the tested mink farm residents, employees, and/or individuals with whom they had been in contact, 68% had evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Individuals for which whole genomes were available were shown to have been infected with strains with an animal sequence signature, providing evidence of animal-to-human transmission of SARS-CoV-2 within mink farms.

Mink Zoonoses Animals COVID-19 Disease Outbreaks Farms Humans Likelihood Functions Mutation Netherlands Phylogeny RNA, Viral SARS-CoV-2 Whole Genome Sequencing

Structured evidence records

Evidence records

6 total
Spillover Event 2 records
Spillover Event Extraction confidence 0.98
Key finding

SARS-CoV-2 strains with mink-associated sequence signatures infected humans on mink farms, confirming mink-to-human spillover.

Virus
SARS-CoV-2
Location
Netherlands Netherlands
Supporting text

Individuals for which whole genomes were available were shown to have been infected with strains with an animal sequence signature, providing evidence of animal-to-human transmission of SARS-CoV-2 within mink farms.

Method
whole-genome sequencing
Study design
outbreak investigation
Transmission direction
animal-to-human
Geographic raw
Netherlands
Country inferred
Netherlands
Spillover Event Extraction confidence 0.98
Key finding

Humans initially introduced SARS-CoV-2 to mink, indicating human-to-animal transmission and subsequent adaptation among mink.

Virus
SARS-CoV-2
Location
Netherlands Netherlands
Supporting text

We conclude that the virus was initially introduced by humans and has since evolved, most likely reflecting widespread circulation among mink in the beginning of the infection period.

Method
whole-genome sequencing
Study design
outbreak investigation
Transmission direction
human-to-animal
Geographic raw
Netherlands
Country inferred
Netherlands
Cross Species Transmission 1 records
Cross Species Transmission Extraction confidence 0.95
Key finding

SARS-CoV-2 spread among mink populations across different farms, forming multiple transmission clusters.

Virus
SARS-CoV-2
Location
Netherlands Netherlands
Supporting text

Transmission occurred between mink farms in three large transmission clusters with unknown modes of transmission.

Method
whole-genome sequencing; phylogenetic analysis
Study design
outbreak investigation
Transmission direction
animal-to-animal
Geographic raw
Netherlands
Country inferred
Netherlands
Genomic Evolution 1 records
Genomic Evolution Extraction confidence 0.90
Key finding

Whole-genome sequencing revealed SARS-CoV-2 strains with distinct animal sequence signatures in humans linked to mink farms, indicting viral evolution during circulation in mink and zoonotic transmission back to humans.

Virus
SARS-CoV-2
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

We describe an in-depth investigation using whole-genome sequencing of outbreaks on 16 mink farms and the humans living or working on these farms. Individuals for which whole genomes were available were shown to have been infected with strains with an animal sequence signature, providing evidence of animal-to-human transmission of SARS-CoV-2 within mink farms.

Genes or proteins
whole genome
Analysis methods
whole-genome sequencing; phylogenetic analysis
Outbreak Investigation 1 records
Outbreak Investigation Extraction confidence 0.95
Key finding

Genomic analysis confirmed animal-to-human transmission of SARS-CoV-2 within mink farms.

Virus
SARS-CoV-2
Location
Netherlands Netherlands
Supporting text

Here, we describe an in-depth investigation using whole-genome sequencing of outbreaks on 16 mink farms and the humans living or working on these farms. Individuals for which whole genomes were available were shown to have been infected with strains with an animal sequence signature, providing evidence of animal-to-human transmission of SARS-CoV-2 within mink farms.

Method
whole-genome sequencing
Transmission direction
animal-to-human
Geographic raw
Netherlands
Country inferred
Netherlands
Outbreak setting
mink farms
Outbreak scale
16 mink farms; 68% of tested mink farm residents, employees, and/or individuals with whom they had been in contact
Zoonotic Surveillance 1 records
Zoonotic Surveillance Extraction confidence 0.80
Key finding

Whole-genome sequencing surveillance on mink farms identified SARS-CoV-2 circulation among mink and humans, confirming farm-level zoonotic transmission.

Virus
SARS-CoV-2
Location
Netherlands Netherlands
Supporting text

Here, we describe an in-depth investigation using whole-genome sequencing of outbreaks on 16 mink farms and the humans living or working on these farms. Despite enhanced biosecurity, early warning surveillance, and immediate culling of animals in affected farms, transmission occurred between mink farms in three large transmission clusters.

Method
whole-genome sequencing; early warning surveillance
Geographic raw
Netherlands
Country inferred
Netherlands