Scientists of the Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine of the Medical University of Gdańsk, the faculty of biotechnology of the University of Gdańsk and the Medical University of Gdańsk, together with veterinarians, have detected the first case of SARS-CoV-2 infection in farmed mink in Poland.
Swabs were collected from a mink from a farm in the Pomeranian Voivodeship. The material was subjected to RT-PCR using a two-gene test based on the protocol used in human diagnostics. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus RNA was found in eight of the tested animals. The scientists are continuing in-depth genetic research to determine the likely origin of the virus and enable comparison with known SARS-CoV-2 genetic sequences.
Research confirms the need for increased epizootiological monitoring, intensive search for possible carriers of zoonoses and raising the standards of biosecurity on animal farms.
