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Oxford University Press - PMC COVID-19 Collection logoLink to Oxford University Press - PMC COVID-19 Collection
. 2022 Mar 2:ciac171. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciac171

Probable Animal-to-Human Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant AY.127 Causing a Pet Shop-Related COVID-19 Outbreak in Hong Kong

Jasper Fuk-Woo Chan 1,2,2, Gilman Kit-Hang Siu 3,2, Shuofeng Yuan 1, Jonathan Daniel Ip 1, Jian-Piao Cai 1, Allen Wing-Ho Chu 1, Wan-Mui Chan 1, Syed Muhammad Umer Abdullah 1, Cuiting Luo 1, Brian Pui-Chun Chan 1, Terrence Tsz-Tai Yuen 1, Lin-Lei Chen 1, Kenn Ka-Heng Chik 1, Ronghui Liang 1, Hehe Cao 1, Vincent Kwok Man Poon 1, Chris Chung-Sing Chan 1, Kit-Hang Leung 2, Anthony Raymond Tam 4, Owen Tak-Yin Tsang 5, Jacky Man-Chun Chan 5, Wing-Kin To 6, Bosco Hoi-Shiu Lam 6, Lam-Kwong Lee 3, Hazel Wing-Hei Lo 3, Ivan Tak-Fai Wong 3, Jake Siu-Lun Leung 3, Evelyn Yin-Kwan Wong 3, Hin Chu 1, Cyril Chik-Yan Yip 2, Vincent Chi-Chung Cheng 1,2, Kwok-Hung Chan 1, Herman Tse 7, David Christopher Lung 7,8, Kenneth Ho-Leung Ng 9, Albert Ka-Wing Au 9, Ivan Fan-Ngai Hung 4,10, Kwok-Yung Yuen 1,2, Kelvin Kai-Wang To 1,2,
PMCID: PMC8903450  PMID: 35234870

Abstract

Background

SARS-CoV-2 can infect human and other mammals, including hamsters. Syrian (Mesocricetus auratus) and dwarf (Phodopus sp.) hamsters are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection in the laboratory setting. However, pet shop-related COVID-19 outbreaks have not been reported.

Methods

We conducted an investigation of a pet shop-related COVID-19 outbreak due to Delta variant AY.127 involving at least three patients in Hong Kong. We tested samples collected from the patients, environment, and hamsters linked to this outbreak and performed whole genome sequencing analysis of the RT-PCR-positive samples.

Results

The patients included a pet shop keeper (Patient 1), a female customer of the pet shop (Patient 2), and the husband of Patient 2 (Patient 3). Investigation showed that 17.2% (5/29) and 25.5% (13/51) environmental specimens collected from the pet shop and its related warehouse, respectively, tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA by RT-PCR. Among euthanized hamsters randomly collected from the storehouse, 3% (3/100) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA by RT-PCR and seropositive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody by ELISA. Whole genome analysis showed that although all genomes from the outbreak belonged to the Delta variant AY.127, there were at least 3 nucleotide differences among the genomes from different patients and the hamster cages. Genomic analysis suggests that multiple strains have emerged within the hamster population, and these different strains have likely transmitted to human either via direct contact or via the environment.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrated probable hamster-to-human transmission of SARS-CoV-2. As pet trading is common around the world, this can represent a route of international spread of this pandemic virus.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, Delta variant AY.127, hamsters, transmission, pet

Supplementary Material

ciac171_suppl_Supplementary_Material
ciac171_suppl_Supplementary_Table_S1
ciac171_suppl_Supplementary_Table_S2

Associated Data

This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.

Supplementary Materials

ciac171_suppl_Supplementary_Material
ciac171_suppl_Supplementary_Table_S1
ciac171_suppl_Supplementary_Table_S2

Articles from Clinical Infectious Diseases: An Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America are provided here courtesy of Oxford University Press

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