Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Chan, Jasper Fuk Woo
• Siu, Gilman Kit Hang
• Yuan, Shuofeng
• Ip, Jonathan Daniel
• Cai, Jian Piao
• Chu, Allen Wing Ho
• Chan, Wan Mui
• Abdullah, Syed Muhammad Umer
• Luo, Cuiting
• Chan, Brian Pui Chun
• Yuen, Terrence Tsz Tai
• Chen, Lin Lei
• Chik, Kenn Ka Heng
• Liang, Ronghui
• Cao, Hehe
• Poon, Vincent Kwok Man
• Chan, Chris Chung Sing
• Leung, Kit Hang
• Tam, Anthony Raymond
• Tsang, Owen Tak Yin
• Chan, Jacky Man Chun
• To, Wing Kin
• Lam, Bosco Hoi Shiu
• Lee, Lam Kwong
• Lo, Hazel Wing Hei
• Wong, Ivan Tak Fai
• Leung, Jake Siu Lun
• Wong, Evelyn Yin Kwan
• Chu, Hin
• Yip, Cyril Chik Yan
• Cheng, Vincent Chi Chung
• Chan, Kwok Hung
• Tse, Herman
• Lung, David Christopher
• Ng, Kenneth Ho Leung
• Au, Albert Ka Wing
• Hung, Ivan Fan Ngai
• Yuen, Kwok Yung
• To, Kelvin Kai Wang

Titel

Probable Animal-to-Human Transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Delta Variant AY.127 Causing a Pet Shop-Related Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak in Hong Kong

Ist Teil von

• Clinical infectious diseases, 2022-08, Vol.75 (1), p.e76-e81

Ort / Verlag

US: Oxford University Press

Erscheinungsjahr

2022

Quelle

Oxford Journals 2020 Medicine

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Abstract Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can infect human and other mammals, including hamsters. Syrian (Mesocricetus auratus) and dwarf (Phodopus sp.) hamsters are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection in the laboratory setting. However, pet shop-related Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreaks have not been reported. Methods We conducted an investigation of a pet shop-related COVID-19 outbreak due to Delta variant AY.127 involving at least 3 patients in Hong Kong. We tested samples collected from the patients, environment, and hamsters linked to this outbreak and performed whole genome sequencing analysis of the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-positive samples. Results The patients included a pet shop keeper (Patient 1), a female customer of the pet shop (Patient 2), and the husband of Patient 2 (Patient 3). Investigation showed that 17.2% (5/29) and 25.5% (13/51) environmental specimens collected from the pet shop and its related warehouse, respectively, tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA by RT-PCR. Among euthanized hamsters randomly collected from the storehouse, 3% (3/100) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA by RT-PCR and seropositive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody by enzyme immunoassay. Whole genome analysis showed that although all genomes from the outbreak belonged to the Delta variant AY.127, there were at least 3 nucleotide differences among the genomes from different patients and the hamster cages. Genomic analysis suggests that multiple strains have emerged within the hamster population, and these different strains have likely transmitted to human either via direct contact or via the environment. Conclusions Our study demonstrated probable hamster-to-human transmission of SARS-CoV-2. As pet trading is common around the world, this can represent a route of international spread of this pandemic virus. We report a SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant AY.127 outbreak related to a pet store in Hong Kong. Genomic analysis showed that multiple strains were involved. Our study highlighted the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 being transmitted from hamsters to human in the community.