” Between 2015 and 2017, we regularly discovered what we have called the Grimsö Virus in 3.4 percent of these voles, which would suggest that the virus is common and widespread in Swedens bank voles,” says Åke Lundkvist, Professor in virology and head of the Zoonosis Science Center at Uppsala University. He led the study together with scientists Jiaxin Ling and Anishia Wasberg, a doctoral student and the first author.
Scientists from the Zoonosis Science Center (ZSC) map zoonotic viruses to increase the understanding of the interaction in between viruses and host animals. Unlike the SARS-CoV and MERS coronaviruses that originate in bats, seasonal coronaviruses, such as HCoV-OC43 and HCoV-HKU1, appear to have spread to people from rodents like rats, voles, and mice. The objective is to increase understanding and establish techniques that can effectively limit major virus outbreaks and avoid infection dispersing from animals to human beings.
Scientists
In a new research study published on June 1, 2022, in the journal Viruses, researchers from ZSC taken a look at red-backed voles captured around Grimsö in Örebro County between 2015 and 2017 and evaluated them for coronavirus. Utilizing an RNA sequencing approach, they determined a new coronavirus called the Grimsö Virus coming from the betacoronavirus household that also consists of SARS-CoV, MERS, and SARS-CoV-2.
Rodents currently bring several zoonotic microorganisms, such as Hantaviruses and Tularemia, suggesting they play a key function in how infectious diseases are spread. Over the last few years, there has actually been a significant boost in infectious diseases that can be connected to small mammals, like rodents, and research study around the ecology of these host animals is an important component in the work to prevent future outbreaks.
The bank vole (Myodes glareolus) is one of Europes most common rodents. Previous studies have actually found several coronaviruses distributing amongst animals in countries like the United Kingdom, Poland, France and Germany.
” We still do not understand what possible risks the Grimsö Virus may posture to public health. Based on our observations and previous coronaviruses recognized amongst bank voles, there is excellent reason to continue keeping track of the coronavirus amongst wild rodents,” says Professor Åke Lundkvist.
Referral: “Discovery of a Novel Coronavirus in Swedish Bank Voles (Myodes glareolus)” by Anishia Wasberg, Jayna Raghwani, Jinlin Li, John H.-O. Pettersson, Johanna F. Lindahl, Åke Lundkvist and Jiaxin Ling, 1 June 2022, Viruses.DOI: 10.3390/ v14061205.
Bank voles are little rodents that mainly reside in forest areas.
Scientists from the Zoonosis Science Center at Uppsala University have determined a new coronavirus. Their research study of around 260 bank voles captured around Grimsö, Örebro County, shows that the virus is well established in Swedens red-backed voles. The finding has actually been published in the journal Viruses.
Bank voles (Myodes glareolus) are a types of small voles around 3.9 inches (10 cm) in length that live in forest areas. Voles are small rodents connected to hamsters and lemmings that are often called meadow mice or field mice in North America. There are over 150 different species of vole.
Still a mystery, SARS-CoV-2, the virus that triggers COVID-19, may have come from in bats. Other coronaviruses are known to stem in rodents including voles, mice, and rats. Scientists in Sweden have now found a brand-new coronavirus, called Grimsö Virus, and discovered it in 3.4% of the voles tested.
Unlike the SARS-CoV and MERS coronaviruses that stem in bats, seasonal coronaviruses, such as HCoV-OC43 and HCoV-HKU1, appear to have actually spread to humans from rodents like rats, voles, and mice.
Their study of approximately 260 bank voles captured around Grimsö, Örebro County, shows that the infection is well established in Swedens red-backed voles. Bank voles (Myodes glareolus) are a species of small voles around 3.9 inches (10 cm) in length that live in woodland areas. Researchers in Sweden have now found a new coronavirus, called Grimsö Virus, and discovered it in 3.4% of the voles evaluated.
