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Literature detail

Evidence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in wild mustelids from Brittany (France).

Bernard Davoust1,2 Patrick Guérin3 Nicolas Orain2 Camille Fligny1,2 Fabien Flirden1,2 Florence Fenollar2,4 Oleg Mediannikov1,2 Sophie Edouard1,2
Affiliations 4 institutions
  1. Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, MEPHI, Marseille, France.
  2. IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France.
  3. OpenHealth Company, Vannes, France.
  4. Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, Marseille, France.
PMID 35841263 2022 Transbound Emerg Dis eng ppublish
PubMed DOI Browse context

Article

Publication summary

In the French region of Brittany, mainly in the department of the Côtes d'Armor, during the first half of 2021, seropositivity for SARS-CoV-2 was detected in five wild mustelids out of 33 animals tested (15.6%). Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG was detected against at least four out of five recombinant viral proteins (S1 receptor binding domain, nucleocapsid, S1 subunit, S2 subunit and spike) in three pine martens (Martes martes) and in two badgers (Meles meles) using the automated western blot technique. An ELISA test also identified seropositive cases, although these did not align with western blot results. Although the 171 qPCRs carried out on samples from the 33 mustelids were all negative, these preliminary results from this observational study nevertheless bear witness to infections of unknown origin. The epidemiological surveillance of Covid-19 in wildlife must continue, in particular with effective serology tools.

Covid-19 epidemiosurveillance France Martes martes Meles meles mustelids SARS-CoV-2 serology wildlife COVID-19 Mustelidae Animals Antibodies, Viral Immunoglobulin G SARS-CoV-2 Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus Viral Proteins spike protein, SARS-CoV-2

Structured evidence records

Evidence records

2 total
Serological Evidence 1 records
Serological Evidence Extraction confidence 1.00
Key finding

Wild pine martens (Martes martes) and European badgers (Meles meles) from Brittany, France showed anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG reactivity in 15.6% (5/33) of tested animals, indicating serological evidence of infection or exposure.

Virus
SARS-CoV-2
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

Seropositivity for SARS-CoV-2 was detected in five wild mustelids out of 33 animals tested (15.6%). Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG was detected against at least four out of five recombinant viral proteins in three pine martens (Martes martes) and in two badgers (Meles meles) using the automated western blot technique. An ELISA test also identified seropositive cases.

Method
automated western blot; ELISA
Sample type
serum
Zoonotic Surveillance 1 records
Zoonotic Surveillance Extraction confidence 0.90
Key finding

Serological surveillance in Brittany, France found SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in three pine martens and two badgers among 33 wild mustelids tested.

Virus
SARS-CoV-2
Host
Mustelidae
Location
France Brittany, France
Supporting text

In the French region of Brittany, mainly in the department of the Côtes d'Armor, during the first half of 2021, seropositivity for SARS-CoV-2 was detected in five wild mustelids out of 33 animals tested (15.6%). Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG was detected against at least four out of five recombinant viral proteins in three pine martens (Martes martes) and in two badgers (Meles meles) using the automated western blot technique.

Method
serology; ELISA; western blot
Geographic raw
Brittany
Country inferred
France