Enteric viromes of healthy farmed mink (Neovison vison) from Shandong and Liaoning provinces, China

Abstract Farmed mink (Neovison vison) is the most common animal species used for fur farming in China. Several viruses identified in mink can be transmitted to humans, including SARS-CoV-2, suggesting that this species could play an important role in zoonotic disease emergence. Characterizing the vi...

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Main Authors: Cixiu Li, Wei Zhu, Shuqi Liu, Ruiling Niu, Lei Qian, Edward C. Holmes, Juan Li, Weifeng Shi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-06-01
Series:Animal Microbiome
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s42523-025-00422-y
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author Cixiu Li
Wei Zhu
Shuqi Liu
Ruiling Niu
Lei Qian
Edward C. Holmes
Juan Li
Weifeng Shi
author_facet Cixiu Li
Wei Zhu
Shuqi Liu
Ruiling Niu
Lei Qian
Edward C. Holmes
Juan Li
Weifeng Shi
author_sort Cixiu Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Farmed mink (Neovison vison) is the most common animal species used for fur farming in China. Several viruses identified in mink can be transmitted to humans, including SARS-CoV-2, suggesting that this species could play an important role in zoonotic disease emergence. Characterizing the virus diversity of farmed mink is therefore important for the prevention and mitigation of emerging infectious diseases. We utilized meta-transcriptomic sequencing to determine the enteric viromes of 109 apparently healthy farmed mink from Shandong and Liaoning provinces, China. Using this approach, we identified 34 viruses belonging to 11 viral families/clades. Several important avian- or fish-associated viruses were detected, including astroviruses, caliciviruses, picornaviruses, rotaviruses, parvoviruses, and gyroviruses. Many of these viruses were likely associated with mink diet, indicating that food sources such as uncooked poultry or fish by-products can serve as effective transmission routes of avian and fish viruses to mink. Of particular note, we identified a high prevalence of mink coronavirus in these animals, which is potentially associated with respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses. In sum, our study revealed a diverse range of vertebrate viruses in farmed mink and likely viral transmission to mink via the food chain. Further investigation is necessary to determine the impact of these viruses on mink health and for zoonotic disease preparedness.
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spelling doaj-art-4f80efb17a4c4ee8a28e4ed08b20941f2025-08-20T03:10:41ZengBMCAnimal Microbiome2524-46712025-06-017111210.1186/s42523-025-00422-yEnteric viromes of healthy farmed mink (Neovison vison) from Shandong and Liaoning provinces, ChinaCixiu Li0Wei Zhu1Shuqi Liu2Ruiling Niu3Lei Qian4Edward C. Holmes5Juan Li6Weifeng Shi7Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Universities of Shandong, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical SciencesKey Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Universities of Shandong, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical SciencesKey Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Universities of Shandong, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical SciencesKey Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Universities of Shandong, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical SciencesKey Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Universities of Shandong, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical SciencesSchool of Medical Sciences, The University of SydneyKey Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Universities of Shandong, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical SciencesRuijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineAbstract Farmed mink (Neovison vison) is the most common animal species used for fur farming in China. Several viruses identified in mink can be transmitted to humans, including SARS-CoV-2, suggesting that this species could play an important role in zoonotic disease emergence. Characterizing the virus diversity of farmed mink is therefore important for the prevention and mitigation of emerging infectious diseases. We utilized meta-transcriptomic sequencing to determine the enteric viromes of 109 apparently healthy farmed mink from Shandong and Liaoning provinces, China. Using this approach, we identified 34 viruses belonging to 11 viral families/clades. Several important avian- or fish-associated viruses were detected, including astroviruses, caliciviruses, picornaviruses, rotaviruses, parvoviruses, and gyroviruses. Many of these viruses were likely associated with mink diet, indicating that food sources such as uncooked poultry or fish by-products can serve as effective transmission routes of avian and fish viruses to mink. Of particular note, we identified a high prevalence of mink coronavirus in these animals, which is potentially associated with respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses. In sum, our study revealed a diverse range of vertebrate viruses in farmed mink and likely viral transmission to mink via the food chain. Further investigation is necessary to determine the impact of these viruses on mink health and for zoonotic disease preparedness.https://doi.org/10.1186/s42523-025-00422-yMink (Neovison vison)Enteric viromeMeta-transcriptomicsMink coronavirus
spellingShingle Cixiu Li
Wei Zhu
Shuqi Liu
Ruiling Niu
Lei Qian
Edward C. Holmes
Juan Li
Weifeng Shi
Enteric viromes of healthy farmed mink (Neovison vison) from Shandong and Liaoning provinces, China
Animal Microbiome
Mink (Neovison vison)
Enteric virome
Meta-transcriptomics
Mink coronavirus
title Enteric viromes of healthy farmed mink (Neovison vison) from Shandong and Liaoning provinces, China
title_full Enteric viromes of healthy farmed mink (Neovison vison) from Shandong and Liaoning provinces, China
title_fullStr Enteric viromes of healthy farmed mink (Neovison vison) from Shandong and Liaoning provinces, China
title_full_unstemmed Enteric viromes of healthy farmed mink (Neovison vison) from Shandong and Liaoning provinces, China
title_short Enteric viromes of healthy farmed mink (Neovison vison) from Shandong and Liaoning provinces, China
title_sort enteric viromes of healthy farmed mink neovison vison from shandong and liaoning provinces china
topic Mink (Neovison vison)
Enteric virome
Meta-transcriptomics
Mink coronavirus
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s42523-025-00422-y
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