Category: Animals
USA: SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant spillover from human to horse
“A report on a possible direct exposure to SARS-CoV-2 from a COVID-19-positive individual to an adult horse.”
The individual, diagnosed with COVID-19 (Delta B.1.617.2), had daily contact to her two horses prior to and during the development of clinical disease.… ...More...
Preprint: Infection of mink with SARS-COV-2 Omicron Variant
Mink infected with Omicron were consistently PCR-positive from day 3 onwards, indicating mink-to-mink transmission. Infectious virus was detected in cell culture even before it was detected by PCR.… ...More...
US: Chronic wasting disease in Michigan white tailed deer
A deadly neurological disease known for affecting different species of moose, elk, and other hoofed mammals has been confirmed in a white-tailed deer in Michigan.… ...More...
Research: SARS-CoV-2 spike gene passaged in black rats
Hexapeptide vocabularies of the SARS-CoV-2 spike gene showed the shortest immunological T-distance to black rats.
Here we used a new method to search for the original host of the ancestor of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and for the donor of its gene for the spike protein, the molecule responsible for binding to and entering human cells.… ...More...
BMJ: If we are no longer following the science, what are we following?
British ministers have now abandoned any pretence that they are “following the science” on Covid-19.
In their minutes from 10 February 2022, the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) warned against removing access to free testing as it would make it harder for people to take precautionary measures and increase anxiety among those who are clinically vulnerable.… ...More...
Spain: SARS-CoV-2 spillover infection into wild otters in Valencia
“We present evidence of spillover infection of wild mustelids by reporting the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in a Eurasian river otter found near a water reservoir in the Valencian Community, Spain.”… ...More...
Preprint: SARS-CoV-2 neuroinflammation, microhemorrhages, brain hypoxia, and neuropathology
“Here, we show neuroinflammation, microhemorrhages, brain hypoxia, and neuropathology that is consistent with hypoxic-ischemic injury in SARS-CoV-2 infected non-human primates (NHPs), including evidence of neuron degeneration and apoptosis.… ...More...
US: Delta variant found in Utah mule deer
“On March 22, the APHIS’ National Veterinary Services Lab in Ames, Iowa confirmed a case of the SARS-CoV-2 delta variant in one of the samples submitted from a female mule deer in Morgan County.… ...More...
Preprint: Intranasal delivery of SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein is sufficient to cause olfactory damage
We hypothesize that SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein is sufficient to cause olfactory damage and olfactory dysfunction.
Using an adult zebrafish model, we report that intranasally delivered SARS-CoV-2 S RBD mostly binds to the non-sensory epithelium of the olfactory organ and causes severe olfactory histopathology characterized by loss of cilia, hemorrhages and edema.… ...More...
Animal vaccines made with self-spreading viruses
Self-spreading virus vaccines for animals are being researched in Europe and the US.
“In Spain scientists are currently vaccinating pigs with self-spreading viruses (that have not been modified in a laboratory) against African swine fever as part of contained experiments.… ...More...
Nearly 6% of horses had detectable antibodies to SARS-CoV-2
Amongst the racing thoroughbreds, 35/587 (5.9%) horses had detectable antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. Similar to dogs and cats, horses do not seem to develop clinical SARS-CoV-2 infection.… ...More...
Preprint: SARS-CoV-2 infects the entire genital tract
“A robust signal was seen in the male genital tract (MGT) of all three animals studied. Infection of the MGT was validated by immunofluorescence imaging of infected cells in the testicular and penile tissue and severe pathology was observed in the testes of one animal at 2-weeks post-infection.”… ...More...
Hong Kong: Link between Covid cases and deaths re-established *4 UPDATES*
Hong Kong may impose a hard lockdown that confines people to their homes, authorities signalled Monday 28th February 2022, with the city’s zero-COVID strategy in tatters and bodies piling up in hospitals.… ...More...
France: B.1.160 outbreak may have begun in mink
“based on genomic, geographical and temporal coincidences, that the source of the Marseille-4 (B.1.160) epidemic was the mink”.
The Marseille-4 variant (B.1.160) was the most prevalent SARS-CoV-2 variant in our geographical area in 2020 and was only outdone by the Alpha (UK, B.1.1.7) variant in 2021.… ...More...