Anthropozoonotic spillovers reveal sustained long-term cryptic circulation of SARS-CoV-2 within and between Lithuanian mink farms
Abstract Several studies have documented reverse zoonotic transmission of SARS-CoV-2, including in farmed mink which are susceptible to human respiratory viruses and are known for serving as a reservoir capable of generating new virus variants in densely populated farms. Here, we present the genomic investigation launched in response to detection of human infections with mink-origin SARS-CoV-2 lineages, and show evidence of at least 14 high-confidence introductions of SARS-CoV-2 from humans into farmed mink in Lithuania where sustained transmission in farmed mink lasted up to a year. We estimated the most likely timeframes for these introductions encompassing at least six SARS-CoV-2 lineages, some of which were already extinct in humans, with Bayesian phylogenetic and molecular clock analyses. This study highlights the public health risks posed by fur farms and underscores that passive genomic surveillance systems are ineffective without the active involvement and expertise of responsible institutions.
Authors
- Mantas Šarauskas
- Daniel Naumovas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5968-4182)
- Monika Katėnaitė
- Milda Norkienė (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1679-2404)
- Žygimantas Janeliūnas
- Petras Mačiulskis
- Albertas Timinskas
- Simona Pilevičienė
- Snieguolė Ščeponavičienė
- Miglė Gabrielaitė (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7959-8767)
- Marius Šukys (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2432-0223)
- Danguolė Žiogienė (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3594-8419)
- Rasa Ugenskienė (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7905-8106)
- Rimvydas Jonikas
- Vidmantas Paulauskas
- Bas B. Oude Munnink (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9394-1189)
- Kamilė Tamušauskaitė (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1649-3439)
- Alvydas Malakauskas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-0904-2725)
- Inga Nasvytienė
- Paulius Bušauskas
- Alma Gedvilaitė (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4779-0559)
- Ingrida Olendraitė (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6209-2233)
- Darius Čereškevičius
- Laimonas Griškevičius (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3731-1537)
- Astra Vitkauskienė (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-6107-9731)
- Emilija Vasiliūnaitė (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4084-1544)
- Dovilė Juozapaitė (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7240-4301)
- Rimvydas Norvilas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8502-0750)
- Egidijus Pumputis
- Arnoldas Pautienius (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4494-2724)
- Živilė Žemeckienė
- Martynas Smičius
- Ligita Raugienė
- Jonas Bačelis
- Gytis Dudas
- Arūnas Stankevičius
- Marion Koopmans
- Aistis Šimaitis
- Marius Masiulis
- Reina S Sikkema
Institutions
- Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LT)
- Vilnius University (LT)
- Government of the United States of America (US)
- Erasmus MC (NL)
- Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kaunas Clinics (LT)
- Rigshospitalet (DK)
- Food Research Institute (SK)
- Agency for Science, Innovation and Technology (LT)
- State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine (LT)
- Valstybinių Miškų Urėdija (LT)
- Addenbrooke's Hospital (GB)
- Vilnius University Hospital Santariskiu Klinikos (LT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Virus Evolution
- Published
- 2026-03-12
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1093/ve/veag014
- Primary Topic
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Lietuvos Mokslo Taryba