Quaade, M. L. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2026

Targeted metagenomic recovery of coronaviruses from wildlife samples

Coronaviruses (CoVs) are diverse RNA viruses infecting a wide range of hosts, with significant implications for public health, animal production and welfare. Bats are key reservoirs of mammalian CoVs and have contributed to the emergence and circulation of several zoonotic viruses in a wildlife context, while mustelids represent important hosts at the human-animal interface, as highlighted by SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in farmed mink. Using metagenomic next-generation sequencing, we screened bats and wild mustelids and recovered and characterized full-length CoV genomes. Building on previous findings in Danish wildlife, including alpha-CoVs and a MERS-related beta-CoV in bats, this study expands current knowledge of coronavirus diversity and evolution in wildlife, emphasizing their relevance for zoonotic emergence.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2021

Infection, recovery and re-infection of farmed mink with SARS-CoV-2

Mink, on a farm with about 15,000 animals, became infected with SARS-CoV-2. Over 75% of tested animals were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA in throat swabs and 100% of tested animals were seropositive. The virus responsible had a deletion of nucleotides encoding residues H69 and V70 within the spike protein gene. The infected mink recovered and after free-testing of the mink, the animals remained seropositive. During follow-up studies, after a period of more than 2 months without virus detection, over 75% of tested animals scored positive again for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Whole genome sequencing showed that the virus circulating during this re-infection was most closely related to the virus identified in the first outbreak on this farm but additional sequence changes had occurred. Animals had much higher levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies after re-infection than at free-testing. Thus, following recovery from an initial infection, seropositive mink rapidly became susceptible to re-infection by SARS-CoV-2. Article Summary LineFollowing widespread infection with SARS-CoV-2 of mink on a farm, all tested animals had seroconverted and the farm was then tested free of infection; however, less than 3 months later, a further round of infection affected more than 75% of tested animals.

microbiology↗