Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2: Some animals are not susceptible, other
After the end of last year, the new Coronavirus in the city of Wuhan showed up in China for the first time, started the speculation, where the pathogen originated and how dangerous he can be. The Virus is transmissible from humans to humans, is known. Now, there are new insights as to which animals are receptive and which are not.
Even if some of the conspiracy theories do not claim otherwise: The Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 was created in the laboratory, but is, according to scientific studies, the product of natural Evolution. It could have been transmitted from bats to an intermediate host (possibly Pangoline) to the people. Other animals are susceptible to the Virus.
Virus probably comes originally from bats
Such as the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute (FLI) in a recent communication, writes, occurred with SARS-CoV-2 to some three months in China originally believed to be from bats originating, new zoonotic Coronavirus in humans led to a pandemic.
Currently worldwide investigated by various research institutes, whether the new Coronavirus can also infect other animal species, is . The FLI began a few weeks ago, with infection studies in pigs, chickens, flying, dogs, and ferrets.
First results show that flying foxes and ferrets, are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, pigs and chickens, however.
In particular, the susceptibility of the ferret is an important finding, because they could be used according to the specialists, as the model animals for human infection for the testing of vaccines or drugs.
Route of infection in humans is the nasopharynx
According to statements, was administered to the animals in the infection studies of SARS-CoV-2 in the nose, the natural route of infection via the nasopharynx to imitate.
As the communication explains, were Nilflughunde, belonging to the bat tested on animals, in order to gain knowledge about the supposed reservoir function of bats. These animals could be infected, showed no symptoms of the disease and infected conspecifics is not efficient.
Ferrets are, according to the FLI is the case with other respiratory infections, in particular influenza viruses, a good model for the people. Because the new Coronavirus propagated mainly in the respiratory tract, could ferrets are a suitable model for this infection.
Currently, around the world in urgent need of such an animal model, which reflects the infection of the people. The Attempts of the FLI now show that ferrets can be used to efficiently with SARS-CoV-2 to infect, the Virus is a good breed and to other dogs transfer.
These animals increased the Virus mainly in the upper areas of the respiratory tract, showed no symptoms of the disease. Thus, an infection model is available, which could help in the testing of vaccines and drugs against SARS-CoV-2.
Not a potential risk to humans by animals
As the message explains, is dedicated to the FLI Federal research Institute for animal health the health of food supply animals. The Central tasks of prevention, diagnosis and control of animal diseases, improvement of animal husbandry and nutrition, as well as the study of livestock genetics.
Because, especially in contact with the people are farm animals were pigs and chickens on the susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 tested. It was investigated whether these animals are infected, the pathogens can multiply and symptoms of the disease.
Furthermore, it was tested by the researchers, whether they excrete the pathogen, and thus a potential danger for the people could be. Under the experimental conditions, neither pigs nor chickens were susceptible to infection with SARS-CoV-2.
According to the FLI, you are, according to present knowledge, therefore, of the Virus is not affected and therefore not a potential risk for humans. The complete evaluation of all the test series but will take some time, with the end results at the beginning of may is expected. (ad)