This raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides)Also known as japanese raccoon, raccoon dog, or tanukiis at the center of surprising news that could change the way we understand the world. origin corona virus. A team of international scientists Raccoon dog DNA discovered in samples including SARS-CoV-2 viruscollected in January 2020 in Huanan market WuhanChinese. Although this information is not conclusive, these animals Bridge between bats and humans in virus transmission.
What are raccoon dogs?
for the unfamiliar raccoon dogsThey are members of the fox family and are bred on fur farms in China. swap their fur. They are nocturnal carnivores and have been known to carry other viruses in the past.
the news caused arouse excitement in the scientific communityuntil now these animals were not recognized as the source of the COVID-19 outbreak. Despite the lack of conclusive evidence, the discovery ignited the debate that more research needed to be done. role dogs raccoon in the spread of the virus.
researchers Genetic material from raccoon dogs was found in several samples from the Huanan market, including those obtained from a shopping cart and poultry plucker. While these findings are not conclusive, they suggest that raccoon dogs may have been infected with the virus and transmitted to humans.
Some scientists, such as the Australian virologist Edward Holmes, had already visited the Huanan market in 2014 and photographed cages with raccoon dogs. The scientific community expected another coronavirus to jump from bats to humans, for example, via an intermediate host. raccoon dogs sold at livestock markets from China.
Origin of the coronavirus pandemic
Christian Drosten, Director of the Institute of Virology at the Berlin Charité Hospital, drew attention from the beginning of the pandemic to the present. Chinese hatcheries as possible sources of the virus. In an interview with The Guardian in 2020, he stated: I used to look where raccoon dogs are raised if they give him money and freedom of movement in China.
Despite hypothesis that the virus left the laboratory The current scientific evidence points mostly to the Huanan livestock market as the source of the outbreak. Danish biologist Kristian Andersen, one of the study’s co-authors, noted in The Atlantic that although raccoon dogs cannot be definitively said to be intermediate hosts, they are on the list of potential hosts.
This news highlighted the importance of investigating everything in depth. Possible sources of pandemics, including raccoon dogs and other animalsto understand how the virus is transmitted and how future pandemics can be prevented.
Raccoon dog DNA in coronavirus samples
As research progresses, the scientific community is eager to discover more about this topic. The role of raccoon dogs in the spread of the disease COVID-19. While the available evidence is inconclusive, the discovery of raccoon dog DNA in coronavirus samples has sparked curiosity and interest in these animals.
The study of raccoon dogs and their possible links to coronavirus also Concerns about the industry that raises livestock for the fur trade and livestock markets in China. Animal trafficking and lack of hygiene measures in these markets can increase the risk of human transmission.
The Chinese government’s lack of transparency has also been criticized, as the international scientific community did not have access to these samples until recently. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom criticized the Chinese government’s lack of transparency about the epidemic..
Like Investigations into the source of the COVID-19 outbreak continueIt is critical that scientists and health officials work together to identify and address potential sources of infection. This includes extensive research of raccoon dogs and other animals, as well as improved regulation and surveillance of livestock markets and the fur industry.
Ultimately, this discovery highlights the importance of international collaboration in scientific research and the need to be alert to all potential sources of disease that emerge. aunt ken There is a lot to learn about the role of raccoon dogs in the COVID-19 outbreak.this finding could lead to a better understanding of the virus and ultimately to better prevention of future pandemics.