Imported puppy hamsters likely carried the Delta version of coronavirus into Hong Kong and brought on a virus amongst people, consistent with a brand new take a look at. The researchers from the University of Hong Kong and authorities officers performed a genomic evaluation of viral samples from the rodents to verify the concern that a puppy save became the supply of the Covid-19 outbreak.
Hamsters are the simplest 2nd animal regarded on the way to infect people. While transmission of Sars-CoV-2 from people to different mammals had been reported, there has been no preceding documentation, except for farmed mink, of those animals infecting people. After a puppy shop employee examined high-quality for Covid-19, animals in the shop and withinside the warehouse imparting it have been examined for proof of Sars-CoV-2 contamination.
The viral swabs and blood samples from puppy animals have been examined via way of means of RT-PCR and serological assays, respectively. The high-quality samples from the RT-PCR take a look at have been in addition studied via way of means of complete genome sequencing evaluation. The take a look at confirmed that the virus can flow into inside hamsters and cause human infections.
“Both genetic and epidemiological outcomes strongly endorse that there have been impartial hamster-to-human transmission and that such occasions can cause onward human transmission. Importation of inflamed hamsters became the maximum probably supply of virus contamination,” the take a look at stated.
According to the take a look at, over 50% of Syrian hamsters examined from the puppy save and warehouse have been observed high-quality for Sars-CoV-2 contamination. The dwarf hamsters, rabbits, Guinea pigs, chinchilla and mice have been examined bad for the virus. The viral genomes deduced from human and hamster instances belonged to the Delta version of subject that had now no longer been circulating regionally previous to this outbreak.
Researchers stated that the sequences have been fantastically similar, however distinct.
“The viral genomes received from hamsters are phylogenetically associated with a few collection heterogeneity and phylogenetic courting endorse contamination in those hamsters came about round 21 November 2021. Two separate transmission occasions to people are documented, one main to onward family spread,” it stated.
The Hong Kong take a look at is but to be peer-reviewed and is to be had in pre-print.
