Surveillance du SRAS-CoV-2 dans la faune sauvage près des élevages de visons en Colombie-Britannique, Canada
- DOI
- Language of the publication
- French
- Date
- 2022
- Type
- Accepted manuscript
- Author(s)
- Strang, Talia
- Flockhart, Logan
- Thacker, Caeley
- Schwantje, Helen
- Soos, Catherine
- Dibernardo, Antonia
- Lindsay, L. Robbin
- Toledo, Nikki
- Beauclerc, Kaela
- Fraser, Erin
- Prystajecky, Natalie
- Himsworth, Chelsea
- Publisher
- L'Agence de la santé publique du Canada
Abstract
Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can infect many wild and domestic animal species. Farmed American mink (Neovison vison) are particularly susceptible to infection. Outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 were detected in farmed mink on three mink farms in British Columbia (BC), Canada between December 2020 and May 2021. In BC, mink farm density and proximity to wildlife habitats increase transmission risks from infected farmed mink. The objective of this study is to investigate the risk of SARS-CoV-2 spreading to and from wildlife in the area surrounding infected mink farms in BC, Canada, as well as to compare the effectiveness of physical and camera trapping surveillance methodologies. Methods: A combination of physical and camera trapping was used on and around three BC mink farms with active SARS-CoV-2 infections between January 22, 2021, and July 10, 2021. Samples from trapped animals, including escaped farmed mink, were tested for SARS-CoV-2. Camera images from one mink farm were reviewed to determine species and proximity to the mink barn. Results: Seventy-one animals of nine species were captured and sampled. Three captured mink tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction and serology; the remaining samples were negative for SARS-CoV-2. Genotyping of the three positive mink indicated these were domestic (vs. wild) mink. A total of 440 animals of 16 species were photographed at the one farm where cameras were deployed. Conclusion: Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in escaped farmed mink is concerning and demonstrates the potential for transmission from farmed mink to wildlife, particularly given the observation of wildlife known to be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 near infected mink farms. Combined use of physical and camera trapping contributed to the breadth of the results and is strongly recommended for future surveillance.
Subject
- Health,
- Wildlife,
- Coronavirus diseases,
- Furs
Rights
Pagination
279-287
Peer review
Yes
Open access level
Green
Identifiers
- ISSN
- 1719-3109
Article
- Journal title
- Relevé des maladies transmissibles au Canada
- Journal volume
- 48
- Journal issue
- 6
Relation
- Is translation of:
- https://open-science.canada.ca/handle/123456789/612
Citation(s)
Strang T, Flockhart L, Thacker C, Schwantje H, Soos C, Dibernardo A, Lindsay LR, Toledo NPL, Beauclerc K, Fraser E, Prystajecky N, Himsworth C. Surveillance du SRAS-CoV-2 dans la faune sauvage près des élevages de visons en Colombie-Britannique, Canada. Relevé des maladies transmissibles au Canada 2022;48(6):279–87. https://doi.org/10.14745/ccdr.v48i06a03f