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. 2022 Aug 24;75(1):e76-e81.
doi: 10.1093/cid/ciac171.

Probable Animal-to-Human Transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Delta Variant AY.127 Causing a Pet Shop-Related Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak in Hong Kong

Jasper Fuk Woo Chan  1   2 , Gilman Kit Hang Siu  3 , 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
Affiliations

Probable Animal-to-Human Transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Delta Variant AY.127 Causing a Pet Shop-Related Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak in Hong Kong

Jasper Fuk Woo Chan et al. Clin Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (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 Coronavirus Disease 2019 (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 3 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 reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (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 enzyme immunoassay. 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: 2; CoV; Delta variant AY.127; SARS; hamsters; pet; transmission.

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