Hidden reservoirs: Mink, raccoon dogs, and other fur animals may be breeding grounds for the next pandemic, with newly discovered viruses posing a serious threat to global health. Study: Farmed fur animals harbour viruses with zoonotic spillover potential . Image Credit: chinahbzyg / Shutterstock In a recent study published in the journal Nature , researchers conducted a metatranscriptomic investigation of Chinese farmed fur mammals suspected to have died from viral diseases to elucidate if these animals served as a reservoir for viral strains with zoonotic spillover potential.
This comprehensive analysis highlights the critical role of fur animals as potential vectors for future pandemics. Next-generation sequencing of tissues from 461 individual samples collected across 28 species revealed 125 vertebrate-associated virus species from 20 viral families, significantly higher than previously estimated. Notably, the study identified 36 novel viruses and at least 39 viruses meeting the criteria for high-risk transmission, including seven coronaviruses , depicting cross-species transmission and zoonotic spillover potential.
This includes the identification of a novel MERS-like coronavirus in mink and three subtypes of influenza A virus, further expanding the known host range for these pathogens. At least 39 of the viruses, including multiple coronaviruses, pose a significant threat of jumping from animals to humans. The study expanded the known ranges of several virus species and.