TY - JOUR
T1 - Probable Animal-to-Human Transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Delta Variant AY.127 Causing a Pet Shop-Related Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak in Hong Kong
AU - Chan, Jasper Fuk Woo
AU - Siu, Gilman Kit Hang
AU - Yuan, Shuofeng
AU - Ip, Jonathan Daniel
AU - Cai, Jian Piao
AU - Chu, Allen Wing Ho
AU - Chan, Wan Mui
AU - Abdullah, Syed Muhammad Umer
AU - Luo, Cuiting
AU - Chan, Brian Pui Chun
AU - Yuen, Terrence Tsz Tai
AU - Chen, Lin Lei
AU - Chik, Kenn Ka Heng
AU - Liang, Ronghui
AU - Cao, Hehe
AU - Poon, Vincent Kwok Man
AU - Chan, Chris Chung Sing
AU - Leung, Kit Hang
AU - Tam, Anthony Raymond
AU - Tsang, Owen Tak Yin
AU - Chan, Jacky Man Chun
AU - To, Wing Kin
AU - Lam, Bosco Hoi Shiu
AU - Lee, Lam Kwong
AU - Lo, Hazel Wing Hei
AU - Wong, Ivan Tak Fai
AU - Leung, Jake Siu Lun
AU - Wong, Evelyn Yin Kwan
AU - Chu, Hin
AU - Yip, Cyril Chik Yan
AU - Cheng, Vincent Chi Chung
AU - Chan, Kwok Hung
AU - Tse, Herman
AU - Lung, David Christopher
AU - Ng, Kenneth Ho Leung
AU - Au, Albert Ka Wing
AU - Hung, Ivan Fan Ngai
AU - Yuen, Kwok Yung
AU - To, Kelvin Kai Wang
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved.
PY - 2022/7/1
Y1 - 2022/7/1
N2 - Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can infect human and other mammals, including hamsters. Syrian (Mesocricetus auratus) and dwarf (Phodopus sp.) hamsters are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection in the laboratory setting. However, pet shop-related Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreaks have not been reported. Methods: We conducted an investigation of a pet shop-related COVID-19 outbreak due to Delta variant AY.127 involving at least 3 patients in Hong Kong. We tested samples collected from the patients, environment, and hamsters linked to this outbreak and performed whole genome sequencing analysis of the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-positive samples. Results: The patients included a pet shop keeper (Patient 1), a female customer of the pet shop (Patient 2), and the husband of Patient 2 (Patient 3). Investigation showed that 17.2% (5/29) and 25.5% (13/51) environmental specimens collected from the pet shop and its related warehouse, respectively, tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA by RT-PCR. Among euthanized hamsters randomly collected from the storehouse, 3% (3/100) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA by RT-PCR and seropositive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody by enzyme immunoassay. Whole genome analysis showed that although all genomes from the outbreak belonged to the Delta variant AY.127, there were at least 3 nucleotide differences among the genomes from different patients and the hamster cages. Genomic analysis suggests that multiple strains have emerged within the hamster population, and these different strains have likely transmitted to human either via direct contact or via the environment. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated probable hamster-to-human transmission of SARS-CoV-2. As pet trading is common around the world, this can represent a route of international spread of this pandemic virus.
AB - Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can infect human and other mammals, including hamsters. Syrian (Mesocricetus auratus) and dwarf (Phodopus sp.) hamsters are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection in the laboratory setting. However, pet shop-related Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreaks have not been reported. Methods: We conducted an investigation of a pet shop-related COVID-19 outbreak due to Delta variant AY.127 involving at least 3 patients in Hong Kong. We tested samples collected from the patients, environment, and hamsters linked to this outbreak and performed whole genome sequencing analysis of the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-positive samples. Results: The patients included a pet shop keeper (Patient 1), a female customer of the pet shop (Patient 2), and the husband of Patient 2 (Patient 3). Investigation showed that 17.2% (5/29) and 25.5% (13/51) environmental specimens collected from the pet shop and its related warehouse, respectively, tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA by RT-PCR. Among euthanized hamsters randomly collected from the storehouse, 3% (3/100) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA by RT-PCR and seropositive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody by enzyme immunoassay. Whole genome analysis showed that although all genomes from the outbreak belonged to the Delta variant AY.127, there were at least 3 nucleotide differences among the genomes from different patients and the hamster cages. Genomic analysis suggests that multiple strains have emerged within the hamster population, and these different strains have likely transmitted to human either via direct contact or via the environment. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated probable hamster-to-human transmission of SARS-CoV-2. As pet trading is common around the world, this can represent a route of international spread of this pandemic virus.
KW - 2
KW - CoV
KW - Delta variant AY.127
KW - SARS
KW - hamsters
KW - pet
KW - transmission
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U2 - 10.1093/cid/ciac171
DO - 10.1093/cid/ciac171
M3 - Article
C2 - 35234870
AN - SCOPUS:85137126853
SN - 1058-4838
VL - 75
SP - E76-E81
JO - Clinical Infectious Diseases
JF - Clinical Infectious Diseases
IS - 1
ER -