Cryptic SARS-CoV-2 lineage identified on two mink farms as a possible result of long-term undetected circulation in an unknown animal reservoir, Poland, November 2022 to January 2023

Katarzyna Domańska-Blicharz; Bas B Oude Munnink; Anna Orłowska; Marcin Smreczak; Justyna Opolska; Anna Lisowska; Paweł Trębas; Wojciech Socha; Aleksandra Giza; Arkadiusz Bomba; Ewelina Iwan; Jerzy Rola; Marion Koopmans

doi:10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2023.28.16.2300188

Cryptic SARS-CoV-2 lineage identified on two mink farms as a possible result of long-term undetected circulation in an unknown animal reservoir, Poland, November 2022 to January 2023

Euro Surveill. 2023 Apr;28(16):2300188. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2023.28.16.2300188.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Poultry Diseases, National Veterinary Research Institute, Puławy, Poland.
² Department of Viroscience, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
³ Department of Virology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Puławy, Poland.
⁴ Department of Omics Analyses, National Veterinary Research Institute, Puławy, Poland.

PMID: 37078885
PMCID: PMC10283451
DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2023.28.16.2300188

Abstract

In late 2022 and early 2023, SARS-CoV-2 infections were detected on three mink farms in Poland situated within a few km from each other. Whole-genome sequencing of the viruses on two of the farms showed that they were related to a virus identified in humans in the same region 2 years before (B.1.1.307 lineage). Many mutations were found, including in the S protein typical of adaptations to the mink host. The origin of the virus remains to be determined.

Keywords: Poland; SARS-CoV-2; mink.

MeSH terms

Animals
COVID-19* / transmission
COVID-19* / veterinary
Disease Reservoirs* / veterinary
Disease Reservoirs* / virology
Farms
Humans
Mink* / virology
Mutation
Poland / epidemiology
SARS-CoV-2* / genetics
Whole Genome Sequencing