OmniVira

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.

Sergio Villanueva-Saz1,2,3 Jacobo Giner1,2 Ana María Palomar4 María Asunción Gómez5 Madis Põdra5 María Del Carmen Aranda6 María de Los Ángeles Jiménez7 Patricia Lizarraga8 Raquel Hernández5 Aránzazu Portillo4 José Antonio Oteo4 Ignacio Ruíz-Arrondo4 María Dolores Pérez3,9 Ana Pilar Tobajas9 Maite Verde1,2,3 Delia Lacasta1,3 Diana Marteles1 Ramón Hurtado-Guerrero10,11,12,13 Llipsy Santiago14 Héctor Ruíz1,3 Antonio Fernández1,2,3
Affiliations 14 institutions
  1. Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain.
  2. Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain.
  3. Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2, Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain.
  4. Infectious Diseases Department, Center of Rickettsiosis and Arthropod-Borne Diseases (CRETAV), San Pedro University Hospital-Center of Biomedical Research from La Rioja (CIBIR), Piqueras 98, 26006 Logroño, Spain.
  5. Tragsatec, Tragsatec, Division of Environmental Services, Julian Camarillo 6A-4A Planta, Sector B, 28037 Madrid, Spain.
  6. Fundación para la Investigación en Etología y Biodiversidad, 45950 Toledo, Spain.
  7. Departamento Medicina y Cirugía Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Av. Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
  8. Centro de Recuperación de Fauna de Martioda, Martioda Entitatea 3, 01191 Martioda, Spain.
  9. Department of Animal Production and Sciences of the Food, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain.
  10. Institute for Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Mariano Esquillor s/n, Campus Rio Ebro, Edificio I+D, University of Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain.
  11. Aragon I+D Foundation (ARAID), 50018 Zaragoza, Spain.
  12. Laboratorio de Microscopías Avanzada (LMA), University of Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain.
  13. Copenhagen Center for Glycomics, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.
  14. Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.
PMID35953960 DOI10.3390/ani12151971 Year2022 Journal Animals : an open access journal from MDPI Animals (Basel) Languageeng Statusepublish

Abstract

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.

Supporting text Virus Host Location
coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) 5 ELISA 28 mink 58 RT-qPCR 10 SARS-CoV-2 550 serology 50 Spain 27

Evidence records

3 total
Zoonotic Surveillance
3 records · 3 evidence types
Evidence type Viral Detection
1 records
OVE6236 Viral Detection
Key finding

RT-qPCR assays did not detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in European mink (Mustela lutreola) and American mink (Neogale vison) sampled in Northern Spain.

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

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. 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).

Method
RT-qPCR
Sample type
oropharyngeal swabs | rectal swabs
Geographic raw
Northern Spain
Country inferred
ESP
Evidence type Serological Evidence
1 records
OVE6237 Serological Evidence
Key finding

ELISA testing of serum samples from wild European mink (Mustela lutreola) and American mink (Neogale vison) in Northern Spain found no antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.

Virus
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Host
European mink Mustela lutreola Natural host American mink Neogale vison Natural host
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

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. Antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 were not found in the serum samples analysed (n = 126).

Method
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using the receptor binding domain (RBD) of Spike antigen
Sample type
serum samples
Evidence type Reservoir Ecology
1 records
OVE6238 Reservoir Ecology
Key finding

Wild mink and European mink released to the wild in Northern Spain showed a low potential role as dispersers or reservoirs of SARS-CoV-2.

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

The 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. 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.

Method
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) | RT-qPCR
Sample type
serum samples | oropharyngeal swabs | rectal swabs
Geographic raw
Northern Spain
Country inferred
ESP