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Boyd E, Coombe M, Prystajecky N, Caleta JM, Sekirov I, Tyson J, Himsworth C. Hands off the Mink! Using Environmental Sampling for SARS-CoV-2 Surveillance in American Mink. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:1248. [PMID: 36674005 PMCID: PMC9858792 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20021248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous non-human species were shown to be susceptible to natural infection by SARS-CoV-2, including farmed American mink. Once infected, American mink can transfer the virus from mink to human and mink to mink, resulting in a high rate of viral mutation. Therefore, outbreak surveillance on American mink farms is imperative for both mink and human health. Historically, disease surveillance on mink farms has consisted of a combination of mortality and live animal sampling; however, these methodologies have significant limitations. This study compared PCR testing of both deceased and live animal samples to environmental samples on an active outbreak premise, to determine the utility of environmental sampling. Environmental sampling mirrored trends in both deceased and live animal sampling in terms of percent positivity and appeared more sensitive in some low-prevalence instances. PCR CT values of environmental samples were significantly different from live animal samples' CT values and were consistently high (mean CT = 36.2), likely indicating a low amount of viral RNA in the samples. There is compelling evidence in favour of environmental sampling for the purpose of disease surveillance, specifically as an early warning tool for SARS-CoV-2; however, further work is needed to ultimately determine whether environmental samples are viable sources for molecular epidemiology investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Boyd
- Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Government of British Columbia, Abbotsford, BC V3G 2M3, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Michelle Coombe
- Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Government of British Columbia, Abbotsford, BC V3G 2M3, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Natalie Prystajecky
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
- BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4, Canada
| | | | - Inna Sekirov
- BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4, Canada
| | - John Tyson
- BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4, Canada
| | - Chelsea Himsworth
- Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Government of British Columbia, Abbotsford, BC V3G 2M3, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
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Mo J, Stephens CB, Jordan B, Ritz C, Swayne DE, Spackman E. Optimizing sample collection methods for detection of respiratory viruses in poultry housing environments. Transbound Emerg Dis 2022; 69:e2111-e2121. [PMID: 35365975 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Viral respiratory diseases, such as avian influenza, Newcastle disease, infectious bronchitis, and infectious laryngotracheitis, have considerable negative economic implications for poultry. Ensuring the virus-free status of a premises by environmental sampling after cleaning and disinfection is essential for lifting a quarantine and/or safely restocking the premises following an outbreak. The objectives of this study were to identify optimal sample collection devices and to determine the locations in poultry housing which are best for poultry respiratory virus sample collection. Chickens exposed to infectious bronchitis virus, which was used as a representative virus for enveloped poultry respiratory viruses, were housed in floor-pens in either a curtain-sided wood framed house or a cement block house. Foam swabs, cellulose sponges, polyester swabs, dry cotton gauze and pre-moistened cotton gauze were evaluated for comparative efficiency in recovering viral RNA. Cotton gauze pre-moistened with the viral transport media had the highest sensitivity among the devices (wood-framed house: 78% positive, geometric mean titer [GMT] of 2.6 log10 50% egg infectious doses [EID50 ] equivalents/ml; cement-block houses: 55% positive, GMT of 1.7 log10 EID50 equivalents/ml). Targeting virus deposition sites is also crucial for efficient virus elimination procedures and subsequent testing, therefore 10 locations within the houses were compared for virus detection. In both housing types the highest viral RNA loads were recovered from the top of drinker lines within the pen. Places the chickens could contact directly (e.g., feeder rim) or were contacted by caretaker feet (hallway floor) also yielded higher levels of viral RNA more consistently. These results will facilitate the establishment of efficient environmental sampling procedures for respiratory viruses of poultry. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jongseo Mo
- Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory, US National Poultry Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Athens, GA
| | - Christopher B Stephens
- Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory, US National Poultry Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Athens, GA.,Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, Athens, GA
| | - Brian Jordan
- Department of Poultry Science, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.,Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
| | - Casey Ritz
- Department of Poultry Science, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
| | - David E Swayne
- Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory, US National Poultry Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Athens, GA
| | - Erica Spackman
- Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory, US National Poultry Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Athens, GA
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