Experimental Infection of Mink with SARS-COV-2 Omicron Variant and Subsequent Clinical Disease

• DOI: 10.3201/eid2806.220328
• Publication Date: 2022-05-18T15:04:41Z
• Authors: Jenni Virtanen; Kirsi Aaltonen; Kristel Kegler; Vinaya Venkat; Thanakorn Niamsap; Lauri Kareinen; Rasmus Malmgren; Olga Kivelä; Nina Atanasova; Pamela Österlund; Teemu Smura; Antti Sukura; Tomas Strandin; Lara Dutra; Olli Vapalahti; Heli Nordgren; Ravi Kant; Tarja Sironen
• Keywords: Subclinical infection; 2019-20 coronavirus outbreak

We report an experimental infection of American mink with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant and show that remain positive for viral RNA days, experience clinical signs histopathologic changes, transmit the virus to uninfected recipients. Preparedness is crucial avoid spread among spillover human populations.