SARS-CoV-2 in Danish Mink Farms: Course of the Epidemic and a Descriptive Analysis of the Outbreaks in 2020

Anette Boklund, Anne Sofie Hammer, Michelle Lauge Quaade, Thomas Bruun Rasmussen, Louise Lohse, Bertel Strandbygaard, Charlotte Sværke Jørgensen, Ann Sofie Olesen, Freja Broe Hjerpe, Heidi Huus Petersen, Tim Kåre Jensen, Sten Mortensen, Francisco F Calvo-Artavia, Stine Kjær Lefèvre, Søren Saxmose Nielsen, Tariq Halasa, Graham J Belsham, Anette Bøtner

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Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 infection is the cause of COVID-19 in humans. In April 2020, SARS-CoV-2 infection in farmed mink (Neovision vision) occurred in the Netherlands. The first outbreaks in Denmark were detected in June 2020 in three farms. A steep increase in the number of infected farms occurred from September and onwards. Here, we describe prevalence data collected from 215 infected mink farms to characterize spread and impact of disease in infected farms. In one third of the farms, no clinical signs were observed. In farms with clinical signs, decreased feed intake, increased mortality and respiratory symptoms were most frequently observed, during a limited time period (median of 11 days). In 65% and 69% of farms, virus and sero-conversion, respectively, were detected in 100% of sampled animals at the first sampling. SARS-CoV-2 was detected, at low levels, in air samples collected close to the mink, on mink fur, on flies, on the foot of a seagull, and in gutter water, but not in feed. Some dogs and cats from infected farms tested positive for the virus. Chickens, rabbits, and horses sampled on a few farms, and wildlife sampled in the vicinity of the infected farms did not test positive for SARS-CoV-2. Thus, mink are highly susceptible to infection by SARS-CoV-2, but routes of transmission between farms, other than by direct human contact, are unclear.

Original languageEnglish
Article number164
JournalAnimals
Volume11
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)1-16
Number of pages16
ISSN2076-2615
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021

Keywords

  • Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
  • mink
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • prevalence
  • Denmark
  • clinical signs
  • epidemiology

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