An outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 with high mortality in mink (Neovison vison) on multiple Utah farms

作者：Chrissy Eckstrand, Thomas J. Baldwin, Kerry A. Rood, Michael J. Clayton, Jason K. Lott, Rebecca Wolking, Daniel S. Bradway, Timothy V. Baszler · 发表于：PLoS Pathogens · 年份：2021 · DOI：10.1371/journal.ppat.1009952 · 被引用次数：56 · 研究领域：SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research、Animal Virus Infections Studies、Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology

The breadth of animal hosts that are susceptible to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and may serve as reservoirs for continued viral transmission are not known entirely. In August 2020, an outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 occurred on five mink farms in Utah and was associated with high mink mortality (35-55% of adult mink) and rapid viral transmission between animals. The premise and clinical disease information, pathology, molecular characterization, and tissue distribution of virus within infected mink during the early phase of the outbreak are provided. Infection spread rapidly between independently housed animals and farms, and caused severe respiratory disease and death. Disease indicators were most notably sudden death, anorexia, and increased respiratory effort. Gross pathology examination revealed severe pulmonary congestion and edema. Microscopically there was pulmonary edema with moderate vasculitis, perivasculitis, and fibrinous interstitial pneumonia. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of tissues collected at necropsy demonstrated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA in multiple organs including nasal turbinates, lung, tracheobronchial lymph node, epithelial surfaces, and others. Localization of viral RNA by in situ hybridization revealed a more localized infection, particularly of the upper respiratory tract. Whole genome sequencing from multiple mink was consistent with published SARS-CoV-2 genomes with few polymorphisms. ...