DOI: https://doi.org/10.22263/2312-4156.2023.6.76
I.A. Subotsina1, V.M. Semenov2, I.I. Kupriyanov1
Biological and molecular genetic features of SARS-CoV-2
1Vitebsk State Order of the Badge of Honor Academy of Veterinary Medicine, Vitebsk, Republic of Belarus
2Vitebsk State Order of Peoples’ Friendship Medical University, Vitebsk, Republic of Belarus
Vestnik VGMU. 2023;22(6):76-82.
Abstract.
Objectives. To study the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus circulation in the populations of various species of domestic and wild animals, to study its biological and molecular genetic characteristics. A total of 24 species of animals were involved: domestic cat, dog, cattle, small cattle (sheep and goats), rabbit (decorative and commercial), guinea pig, chinchilla, domestic pig, horse, donkey, American mink, silver fox, dark polecat, mongoose, nosuha, red deer, yellow-throated mouse, red vole, gray rat, budgie, bird (chickens, mute swan), rhesus macaque. Out of them, 12 animal species (50% of all animal species involved) had positive tests for the isolation of virus RNA (during PCR) and the isolation of specific antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 (during the serological study): domestic cat, dog, American mink, dark polecat, nosuha, Cameroonian goat, pig, donkey, horse, yellow-throated mouse, red vole, budgie.
The virus was most often isolated from domestic cats (in 5.59% of samples), American mink (7.51% of samples), and dogs (10.52% of samples). SARS-CoV-2 was isolated from American mink and domestic cat using VERO cell culture, its full genome sequencing was carried out, which made it possible to identify the genetic characteristics of the virus and significant areas of mutations. During this study, information was obtained about 2 new viruses classified as subtype B.1 according to the Pango classification. When analyzing the identified mutations, it was assumed that changes in the genome of the virus occurred to facilitate the penetration of the virus into host cells of various species.
Thus, it was proved that SARS-CoV-2 is capable of infecting not only humans, but also various species of animals, causing the development of severe infectious disease and even death in certain animal species. The virus penetration into the body of various animal species is possible due to the presence of the ACE-2 receptor protein in the body of some animal species, as well as due to changes in the genome of the virus itself, that were identified in our studies in viruses isolated from the body of domestic cat and American mink.
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, domestic and wild animals, sequencing, mutations.
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Information about authors:
I.A. Subotsina – Candidate of Veterinary Sciences, associate professor of the Chair of Epizootology and Infectious Diseases, Vitebsk State Order of the Badge of Honor Academy of Veterinary Medicine; doctoral student of the Chair of Infectious Diseases with the course of the Faculty for Advanced Training & Retraining, Vitebsk State Order of Peoples’ Friendship Medical University, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8346-2988
e-mail: Этот адрес электронной почты защищён от спам-ботов. У вас должен быть включен JavaScript для просмотра. – Irina A. Subotsina;
V.M. Semenov – Doctor of Medical Sciences, professor, head of the Chair of Infectious Diseases with the course of the Faculty for Advanced Training & Retraining, Vitebsk State Order of Peoples’ Friendship Medical University, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7029-9226
I.I. Kupriyanov – lecturer of the Chair of Epizootology and Infectious Diseases, Vitebsk State Order of the Badge of Honor Academy of Veterinary Medicine, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7436-3099
