OmniVira

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.
PMID33172935 DOI10.1126/science.abe5901 Year2021 Journal Science (New York, N.Y.) Science Languageeng Statusppublish

Abstract

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.

Supporting text Virus Host Location
Mink 48 Zoonoses 397 Animals 1948 COVID-19 425 Disease Outbreaks 170 Farms 30 Humans 1440 Likelihood Functions 8 Mutation 209 Netherlands 12 Phylogeny 805 RNA, Viral 193 SARS-CoV-2 453 Whole Genome Sequencing 32

Evidence records

7 total
Zoonotic Surveillance
4 records · 2 evidence types
Evidence type Viral Detection
3 records
Evidence type Reservoir Ecology
1 records
OVE4270 Reservoir Ecology
Key finding

SARS-CoV-2 circulated widely among mink populations for several weeks before detection, indicating ecological maintenance of the virus in farmed mink.

Virus
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Host
American mink Neogale vison Natural host
Location
Not specified
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, several weeks before detection.

Method
whole-genome sequencing | epidemiological investigation of mink farms
Transmission Evidence
3 records · 2 evidence types
Evidence type Spillover Event
1 records
OVE4271 Spillover Event
Key finding

Genomic analysis demonstrated animal-to-human transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from infected mink to farm-associated humans.

Virus
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Host
human Homo sapiens Natural host American mink Neogale vison Natural host
Location
mink farms
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 | phylogenetic analysis
Study design
genomic epidemiological investigation of mink farm outbreaks
Transmission direction
animal-to-human
Geographic raw
mink farms
Evidence type Outbreak Investigation
2 records
OVE4269 Outbreak Investigation
Key finding

Whole-genome sequencing traced SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks on 16 mink farms, showing infection among mink and farm-associated humans with evidence of animal-to-human transmission.

Virus
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Host
American mink Neogale vison Natural host human Homo sapiens Natural host
Location
Not specified
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 | epidemiological outbreak investigation
Transmission direction
animal-to-human
Outbreak setting
mink farms
Outbreak scale
16 mink farms; 68% of tested farm residents or contacts infected
OVE4272 Outbreak Investigation
Key finding

SARS-CoV-2 was transmitted between separate mink farms forming three large transmission clusters with unknown modes of spread.

Virus
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Host
American mink Neogale vison Natural host Mustela Natural host
Location
mink farms
Supporting text

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

Method
whole-genome sequencing | epidemiological clustering analysis
Transmission direction
animal-to-animal
Geographic raw
mink farms