Farmed minks have been reported to be highly susceptible to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and may represent a risk to humans. In this study, we describe the first outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 occurred on a mink farm in Spain, between June and July 2020, involving 92,700 animals. The outbreak started shortly after some farm workers became seropositive for SARS-CoV-2. Minks showed no clinical signs compatible with SARS-CoV-2 infection throughout the outbreak. Samples from 98 minks were collected for histopathological, serological, and molecular studies. Twenty out of 98 (20.4%) minks were positive by RT-qPCR and 82 out 92 (89%) seroconverted. This finding may reflect a rapid spread of the virus at the farm with most of the animals overcoming the infection. Additionally, SARS-CoV-2 was detected by RT-qPCR in 30% of brain samples from positive minks. Sequencing analysis showed that the mink sequences were not closely related with the other mink SARS-CoV-2 sequences available, and that this mink outbreak has its probable origin in one of the genetic variants that were prevalent in Spain during the first COVID-19 epidemic wave. Histological studies revealed bronchointerstitial pneumonia in some animals. Immunostaining of viral nucleocapsid was also observed in nasal turbinate tissue. Farmed minks could therefore constitute an important SARS-CoV-2 reservoir, contributing to virus spread among minks and humans. Consequently, continuous surveillance of mink farms is needed.
【저자키워드】 antibodies, SARS-CoV-2, polymerase chain reaction, mink, Spain, sequence, 【초록키워드】 coronavirus, Pneumonia, SARS-COV-2 infection, Infection, risk, nasal, virus, Brain, Spread, RT-qPCR, Surveillance, outbreak, nucleocapsid, humans, Genetic variant, molecular, serological, seropositive, COVID-19 epidemic, Analysis, acute respiratory syndrome, tissue, virus spread, SARS-CoV-2 sequence, positive, Clinical sign, susceptible, prevalent, collected, Sample, occurred, reported, seroconverted, contributing to, histopathological, 【제목키워드】 Spanish, pathological,