Virome characterization of game animals in China reveals a spectrum of emerging pathogens
Type
ArticleAuthor/s
He, Wan-TingHou, Xin
Zhao, Jin
Sun, Jiumeng
He, Haijian
Si, Wei
Wang, Jing
Jiang, Zhiwen
Yan, Ziqing
Xing, Gang
Lu, Meng
Suchard, Marc A.
Ji, Xiang
Gong, Wenjie
He, Biao
Li, Jun
Lemey, Philippe
Guo, Deyin
Tu, Changchun
Holmes, Edward C.
Shi, Mang
Su, Shuo
Abstract
Game animals are wildlife species traded and consumed as food, and potential reservoirs for SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. We performed a meta-transcriptomic analysis of 1941 game animals, representing 18 species and five mammalian orders, sampled across China. From this we identified ...
See moreGame animals are wildlife species traded and consumed as food, and potential reservoirs for SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. We performed a meta-transcriptomic analysis of 1941 game animals, representing 18 species and five mammalian orders, sampled across China. From this we identified 102 mammalian-infecting viruses, with 65 described for the first time. Twenty-one viruses were considered as potentially high risk to humans and domestic animals. Civets (Paguma larvata) carried the highest number of potentially high-risk viruses. We inferred the transmission of Bat coronavirus HKU8 from bats to civets, as well as cross-species jumps of coronaviruses from bats to hedgehogs, from birds to porcupines, and from dogs to raccoon dogs. Of note, we identified avian Influenza A virus H9N2 in civets and Asian badgers, with the latter displaying respiratory symptoms, as well as cases of likely human-to-wildlife virus transmission. These data highlight the importance of game animals as potential drivers of disease emergence.
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See moreGame animals are wildlife species traded and consumed as food, and potential reservoirs for SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. We performed a meta-transcriptomic analysis of 1941 game animals, representing 18 species and five mammalian orders, sampled across China. From this we identified 102 mammalian-infecting viruses, with 65 described for the first time. Twenty-one viruses were considered as potentially high risk to humans and domestic animals. Civets (Paguma larvata) carried the highest number of potentially high-risk viruses. We inferred the transmission of Bat coronavirus HKU8 from bats to civets, as well as cross-species jumps of coronaviruses from bats to hedgehogs, from birds to porcupines, and from dogs to raccoon dogs. Of note, we identified avian Influenza A virus H9N2 in civets and Asian badgers, with the latter displaying respiratory symptoms, as well as cases of likely human-to-wildlife virus transmission. These data highlight the importance of game animals as potential drivers of disease emergence.
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Date
2022Share