Researchers in the southern part of China have detected coronaviruses closely related to the SARS virus in three wild animal species, including the civet "cat," which are sold in markets there for food consumption. The coronaviruses were found in the masked palm civet, a tree-dwelling animal with a raccoon or weasel-like face and a catlike body; and the racoon dog. The third species, a Chinese ferret badger, was found to produce antibodies to the SARS virus.
These wild animals are considered great delicacies in China, and are bred there for human consumption. Kept in squalid surroundings, stacked cage upon cage, they can be found in markets throughout southern China. While it has been thought that the virus could have been transmitted by food handlers, this latest discovery leaves several questions unanswered, according to the World Health Organization.
- Did these wild animals infect the food handlers, or vice versa?
- Can the virus be spread animal-to-animal, by eating infected prey?
- How widespread is the SARS infection in food animals? (The tests involved only the wild animals from one market.)
- Can the virus be transmitted to humans from the eating of an infected animal?
According to an article on the WHO web site, "much more research is needed before any firm conclusions can be reached. At present, no evidence exists to suggest that these wild animal species play a significant role in the epidemiology of SARS outbreaks. However, it cannot be ruled out that these animals might have been a source of human infection." Of particular interest is the fact that the first outbreaks in Guandong province came shortly after the Chinese began importing civets for food from Vietnam. Hong Kong already outlaws the use of these animals as a food source, and it is possible that Chinese officials will also ban their sale for food. In the meantime, to mitigate the possiblility that the virus actually is transmitted by palm civets and the other wild animals tested, The World Health Organization recommends proper sanitation safeguards in handling animals used for food, along with fully cooking the meat before consumption, as the virus cannot withstand the heat used in thorough cooking.
Since the first outbreaks of SARS in Guandong province of China, scientists from WHO have suspected some sort of animal-human link of the coronavirus. The mutation of a virus strain from animals, allowing it to jump to humans, is a common cause of new illnesses in humans. The test food animals were taken from markets in Shenzhen, Guandong, and included 25 animals, representing eight species. All six civet cats were found to have the SARS virus. Animals found to test negative included the Chinese hare, Chinese muntjack (a type of deer), beaver, and domestic cats.
Next > If the civet is not a cat, what exactly is it?
