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. 2023;69(2):33.
doi: 10.1007/s10344-023-01662-6. Epub 2023 Mar 11.

Lack of SARS-CoV-2 RNA evidence in the lungs from wild European polecats (Mustela putorius) from Spain

Guillermo Carmona  1 , Tamara Burgos  2 , Rafael Barrientos  1 , Sara Martin-Garcia  2 , Clara Muñoz  3   4 , Marta Sánchez-Sánchez  3 , Javier Hernández-Hernández  1 , Carlos Palacín  5 , Pablo Quiles  1 , Alberto Moraga-Fernández  3 , Victor Bandeira  6 , Emilio Virgós  2 , Christian Gortázar  3 , Isabel G Fernandez de Mera  3
Affiliations

Lack of SARS-CoV-2 RNA evidence in the lungs from wild European polecats (Mustela putorius) from Spain

Guillermo Carmona et al. Eur J Wildl Res. 2023.

Abstract

Data on SARS-CoV-2 infection in wildlife species is limited. The high prevalences found in mustelid species such as free-ranging American minks (Neovison vison) and domestic ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) justify the study of this virus in the closely related autochthonous free-ranging European polecat (Mustela putorius). We analysed lung samples from 48 roadkilled polecats collected when the human infection reached its highest levels in Spain (2020-2021). We did not detect infections by SARS-CoV-2; however, surveillance in wild carnivores and particularly in mustelids is still warranted, due to their susceptibility to this virus.

Keywords: Coronavirus disease; European polecat; SARS-CoV-2.

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