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They said it was “imperative” that the fur trade does not become a source of the virus to spread in the human population, and noted that the densely populated conditions on these farms are ripe to amplify the virus in such a way as to ‘help mutate.
A team in the Netherlands carried out whole-genome analyzes of virus samples taken from animals and people at 16 mink farms in the Netherlands – examining the complete genetic sequence of the virus for clues to its origin , its spread and whether it was mutating.
The virus carries a genetic signature that links it to a strain that quickly spread across Europe and the United States at the start of the pandemic. It hit the farms around this time, in April.
“Despite improved biosecurity, early warning surveillance and immediate culling of infected farms, transmission has occurred between mink farms in three large transmission groups with unknown modes of transmission. Sixty-eight percent (68%) of residents, employees and / or mink farms tested in contact had evidence of infection with SARS-CoV-2, ”they added.
People have infected animals and animals have infected people, they found. And the virus has yet to spread from farms to the wider community.
So far, no disturbing mutations have emerged, they added. Danish authorities have also seen the spread in mink farms and seen mutations that do not necessarily appear to be harmful, but the meaning of which is not yet fully understood.
They particularly examined several samples. “A total of 18 sequences from mink farm workers or close contacts were generated from seven different farms. In most cases, these human sequences were almost identical to the mink sequences from the same farm, ”they wrote.
Fur farms are a source of concern due to the conditions. “Mink farms have large populations of animals, living at high density, which could promote transmission of the virus,” the team noted.
Viruses can mutate inside an animal or person during an infection, and each time you switch between them there are new chances of a change.
But since they can’t tell when the virus was first introduced to one of the fur farms, researchers said it was difficult to track how quickly the new coronavirus was able to mutate as it passed. from man to mink and vice versa.
One thing is clear, however, according to the researchers.
“It is imperative that the fur production and trade sector does not become a reservoir for future SARS-CoV-2 fallout on humans,” the Dutch researchers wrote.
Coronaviruses come from animals – likely bats, some scientists believe, but with an intermediate mammal likely serving as an incubator to allow the virus to change enough to help it infect people more easily. Cats, dogs, monkeys, hamsters and rabbits are all vulnerable to infection with coronaviruses and the novel coronavirus.
But efforts to infect pigs and poultry have failed, the researchers note. This can be good news. Poultry and pigs are a source of influenza spread, and new influenza viruses can mix and mutate when they infect ducks and pigs. Dangerous new strains of influenza often appear on farms when people interact with these animals.
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