Experimental infection of American mink with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant BA.1 show that minks remain virus RNA positive for days, develop clinical signs and histopathological changes, and transmit the virus to uninfected recipient.
All experimentally infected mink showed mild to moderate signs of illness including lethargy, anorexia, diarrhea, nasal and lacrimal discharge, and sneezing.
All mink showed consistent histopathological changes in the upper and lower respiratory tracts.
Despite the reports of lower virulence of Omicron, mink develop clinical disease and nasal and pulmonary microscopic lesions closely resemble infection with previously reported variants in mink and humans.
