TY - JOUR

T1 - SARS-CoV-2 in Danish Mink Farms

T2 - Course of the Epidemic and a Descriptive Analysis of the Outbreaks in 2020

AU - Boklund, Anette

AU - Hammer, Anne Sofie

AU - Quaade, Michelle Lauge

AU - Rasmussen, Thomas Bruun

AU - Lohse, Louise

AU - Strandbygaard, Bertel

AU - Jørgensen, Charlotte Sværke

AU - Olesen, Ann Sofie

AU - Hjerpe, Freja Broe

AU - Petersen, Heidi Huus

AU - Jensen, Tim Kåre

AU - Mortensen, Sten

AU - Calvo-Artavia, Francisco F

AU - Lefèvre, Stine Kjær

AU - Nielsen, Søren Saxmose

AU - Halasa, Tariq

AU - Belsham, Graham J

AU - Bøtner, Anette

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

KW - mink

KW - SARS-CoV-2

KW - prevalence

KW - Denmark

KW - clinical signs

KW - epidemiology

U2 - 10.3390/ani11010164

DO - 10.3390/ani11010164

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 33445704

VL - 11

SP - 1

EP - 16

JO - Animals

JF - Animals

SN - 2076-2615

IS - 1

M1 - 164

ER -