- Titel
- Molecular surveillance revealed no SARS‑CoV‑2 spillovers to raccoons (Procyon lotor) in four German federal states
- Zitierfähige Url:
- https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:bsz:15-qucosa2-1035807
- Quellenangabe
- European journal of wildlife research
Erscheinungsjahr: 2022
Jahrgang: 68
ISSN: 1612-4642
Artikelnummer: 54 - Erstveröffentlichung
- 2022
- Abstract (EN)
- Raccoons (Procyon lotor), which are closely related to the family Mustelidae, might be susceptible to natural infection by SARS-CoV-2. This assumption is based on experimental evidence that confirmed the vulnerability of farmed fur-carnivore species, including Procyon lotor to SARS-CoV-2. To date, there are no reports of natural SARS-CoV-2 infections of raccoons in Germany. Here, we use RT-PCR to analyze 820 samples from raccoons hunted in Germany with a focus on 4 German federal states (Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia). Lung tissues were homogenized and processed for RNA extraction and RT-qPCR for detecting SARS-CoV-2 was performed. No viral RNA was detected in any samples (0/820). Next, we compared raccoons and human ACE-2 residues that are known to serve for binding with SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD). Interestingly, we found only 60% identity on amino acid level, which may have contributed to the absence of SARS-CoV-2 infections in raccoons. In conclusion, the chance of raccoons being intermediate reservoir hosts for SARS-CoV-2 seems to be very low.
- Andere Ausgabe
- Erstveröffentlichung
DOI: 10.1007/s10344-022-01605-7
Link: https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10344-022-01605-7.pdf - Freie Schlagwörter (EN)
- SARS-CoV-2, Raccoons, RT-qPCR, Natural infection
- Klassifikation (DDC)
- 590
- Verlag
- Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
- Version / Begutachtungsstatus
- publizierte Version / Verlagsversion
- URN Qucosa
- urn:nbn:de:bsz:15-qucosa2-1035807
- Veröffentlichungsdatum Qucosa
- 01.04.2026
- Dokumenttyp
- Artikel
- Sprache des Dokumentes
- Englisch
- Lizenz / Rechtehinweis
