Experimental and field investigations of exposure, replication and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in pigs in the Netherlands
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Author
Sikkema, Reina S.
Tobias, Tijs
Oreshkova, Nadia
de Bruin, Erwin
Okba, Nisreen
Chandler, Felicity
Hulst, Marcel M.
Rodon, Jordi
Houben, Manon
van Maanen, Kees
Bultman, Hans
Meester, Marina
Gerhards, Nora M.
Bouwknegt, Martijn
Urlings, Bert
Haagmans, Bart
Kluytmans, Jan
GeurtsvanKessel, Corine H.
van der Poel, Wim H. M.
Koopmans, Marion P. G.
Stegeman, Arjan
Publication date
2021-12-21ISSN
2222-1751
Abstract
In order to assess the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, transmission and reservoir development in swine, we combined results of an experimental and two observational studies. First, intranasal and intratracheal challenge of eight pigs did not result in infection, based on clinical signs and PCR on swab and lung tissue samples. Two serum samples returned a low positive result in virus neutralization, in line with findings in other infection experiments in pigs. Next, a retrospective observational study was performed in the Netherlands in the spring of 2020. Serum samples (N =417) obtained at slaughter from 17 farms located in a region with a high human case incidence in the first wave of the pandemic. Samples were tested with protein micro array, plaque reduction neutralization test and receptor-binding-domain ELISA. None of the serum samples was positive in all three assays, although six samples from one farm returned a low positive result in PRNT (titers 40-80). Therefore we conclude that serological evidence for large scale transmission was not observed. Finally, an outbreak of respiratory disease in pigs on one farm, coinciding with recent exposure to SARS-CoV-2 infected animal caretakers, was investigated. Tonsil swabs and paired serum samples were tested. No evidence for infection with SARS-CoV-2 was found. In conclusion, Although in both the experimental and the observational study few samples returned low antibody titer results in PRNT infection with SARS-CoV-2 was not confirmed. It was concluded that sporadic infections in the field cannot be excluded, but large-scale SARS-CoV-2 transmission among pigs is unlikely.
Document Type
Article
Document version
Published version
Language
English
Subject (CDU)
619 - Veterinary science
Pages
5
Publisher
Taylor & Francis Open Access
Is part of
Emerging Microbes and Infections
Citation
Sikkema, Reina S, Tijs Tobias, Nadia Oreshkova, Erwin de Bruin, Nisreen Okba, Felicity Chandler, Marcel M. Hulst, Jordi Rodon, Manon Houben, Kees van Maanen, Hans Bultman, Marina Meester, Nora M. Gerhards, Martijn Bouwknegt, Bert Urlings, Bart Haagmans, Jan Kluytmans, Corine H. GeurtsvanKessel, Wim H.M. van der Poel, Marion P.G. Koopmans, and Arjan Stegeman. 2021. "Experimental And Field Investigations Of Exposure, Replication And Transmission Of SARS-Cov-2 In Pigs In The Netherlands". Emerging Microbes & Infections 11 (1): 91-94. doi:10.1080/22221751.2021.2011625.
Program
Sanitat Animal
This item appears in the following Collection(s)
- ARTICLES CIENTÍFICS [2336]
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Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/