Scientists have found that animals may be to blame for the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2.
According to a study by a team of biologists from the United States and China, the ancestor of the British strain of coronavirus may have circulated among animals vulnerable to it. Cats, dogs and minks can become infected with SARS-CoV-2. The research results are published on the bioRxiv portal.
Scientists suggested that the virus acquired key mutations while it was still circulating in the environment of cats, dogs and other animals. The doctors simply lost sight of him.
The emergence of new varieties of coronavirus, which began to be called British strains, became known in December last year. A distinctive feature of such strains is the N501Y mutation, due to which, most likely, these varieties spread better than others.
As MK in Volgograd previously wrote, the first case of infection with the British strain of coronavirus was recorded in Kalmykia, and a health worker turned out to be sick. The patient has now been discharged after complete recovery.