Abstract
In 2020, Denmark buried approximately four million culled, farmed mink in mass graves treated with slaked lime due to widespread SARS-CoV-2 infections. After six months, environmental concerns prompted the exhumation of these cadavers. Our analysis encompassed visual inspections, soil pH measurements, and gas emission assessments of the grave environment. Additionally, we evaluated carcasses for decay status, cadaverine content, and the presence of various pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2 and mink coronavirus. Our findings revealed minimal microbial activity and limited carcass decomposition. Although viral RNA from SARS-CoV-2 and mink coronavirus, along with DNA from Aleutian mink disease virus, were detected, the absence of infectious SARS-CoV-2 in cell culture assays suggests slow natural degradation processes. This study provides critical insights for future considerations in managing mass burial scenarios during outbreaks of livestock-associated zoonotic pathogens.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 19440 |
Journal | Scientific Reports |
Volume | 14 |
ISSN | 2045-2322 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2024 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:We would like to thank staff from the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration and technical staff present on-site for helping at the disposal site. Special thanks are extended to the excavator operators for their contribution to the sampling of mink and soil. Additionally, we extend our appreciation to Peter Engelund Holm from the University of Copenhagen for his guidance on pH measurements, as well as to Cecilie Brandt Becker, Mette Marie Jensen, and Tenna Sturm Lind Andersen for their support with on-site sampling, sample transportation, and laboratory work. We are also thankful to Gitte Petersen and Vi Phuong Thi Nguyen for their assistance with microbiological and microbial community analyses.
Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024.