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SARS-CoV-2 in animals used for fur farming

GLEWS+ Risk assessment (20 January 2021)











FAO, OIE, WHO. 2021. SARS-CoV-2 in animals used for fur farming – GLEWS+ Risk assessment (20 January 2021)​. Rome.





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    Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet
    Recommendations for the epidemiological investigation of SARS-CoV-2 in exposed animals
    SARS-CoV-2 detection in farmed and companion animals
    2021
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    Acknowledging the zoonotic nature of SARS-CoV-2, investigations about potential animal hosts are of great importance to improve understanding of COVID-19 epidemiology and identify susceptible animal species as well as possible transmission between humans and animals. Positive findings by a polymerase chain reaction in dogs, cats, farmed mink, and wild feline in zoos have raised concerns about the possible role livestock and companion animals could play in the amplification and spread of the virus. Several studies looking at the binding affinity of SARS-CoV-2 receptor in different animal species hypothesized a probable wide range of animal hosts especially mammals. Field studies need to be undertaken now, in the short term, while virus circulation in humans is ongoing in different parts of the world. A thorough One Health investigation is recommended by FAO for events where livestock and companion animals are in close contact to confirmed human COVID-19 cases, or in situations where animals tested SARS-CoV-2 positive in absence of information on the infection status of in-contact humans. By jointly analyzing laboratory and epidemiological information on human and animal cases collected by public health and veterinary services, so-called 4-way linking, our understanding of the epidemiology of COVID-19 and potential transmission between humans and animals will be greatly enhanced.
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    Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet
    Investigating potential recombination of MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 or other coronaviruses in camels
    Supplementary recommendations for the epidemiological investigation of SARS-CoV-2 in exposed animals
    2021
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    Dromedary camels are the main reservoir for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Genetic analysis of MERS-CoV isolates from humans and dromedaries revealed that direction of transmission is from camels to humans. Furthermore, several studies reported evidence of camel infection by other human CoVs, animal CoVs or unknown coronaviruses. There is evidence of recombination between different betacoronaviruses in camels. Analysis of the Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 receptor (ACE2) binding in dromedaries predicted potential binding affinity to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) receptor binding domain (RBD), however some other studies predicted the contrary. With the pandemic spread of SARS-CoV-2, it is not a matter of if but rather when camels will be exposed to SARS-CoV-2 in these countries. Co-circulation of both viruses in the same host can favour virus recombination, and may lead to increased virulence in animals and/or humans if the recombinant virus incorporates pathogenicity of MERS-CoV with the transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2. Further investigations into camel susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2, the possibility for recombination between MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 or other coronaviruses in camels, and the associated zoonotic potential are therefore urgently required to ensure early-detection of such events.
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    Booklet
    Le SARS-CoV-2 chez les animaux élevés pour leur fourrure
    Évaluation du risque GLEWS+ (20 janvier 2021)
    2021
    Depuis qu’il a été détecté pour la première fois chez l’homme en décembre 2019, le SARS-CoV-2 a touché près de 68 millions de personnes, causant plus de 1,5 million de décès dans le monde. Dans plusieurs pays, des cas de transmission entre l’animal et l’homme et entre animaux ont été constatés dans des élevages de visons. C’est ainsi que le SARS-CoV-2 a été détecté dans des cheptels de visons de différents pays. Certaines des fermes concernées ont également signalé que des travailleurs étaient infectés par le SARS-CoV-2. Selon l’hypothèse retenue, les visons auraient été contaminés par l’homme, preuve que le SARS-CoV-2 peut provoquer une zoonose. Dans le cadre de l’initiative GLEWS+, l’Organisation des Nations Unies pour l’alimentation et l’agriculture (FAO), l’Organisation mondiale de la Santé (OMS) et l’Organisation mondiale de la santé animale (OIE) ont réalisé conjointement une évaluation tripartite du risque d’introduction et de propagation du SARS-CoV-2 dans les systèmes d’élevage d’animaux à fourrure et du rôle que ces animaux peuvent jouer dans la transmission du SARS-CoV-2 à l’homme par débordement. En outre, en se fondant sur l’approche «Une seule santé», elles ont évalué le risque que les visons échappés de fermes constituent un réservoir viral dans des populations d’animaux sauvages sensibles. Ces travaux donnent aux Membres des repères face à cette nouvelle menace.

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