Title
Genetic Tracing of Market Wildlife and Viruses at the Epicenter of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Journal
Cell 187(19):5468-5482 (2024)
Authors
Crits-Christoph A, Levy JI, Pekar JE, Goldstein SA, Singh R, Hensel Z, Gangavarapu K, Rogers MB, Moshiri N, Garry RF, Holmes EC, Koopmans MPG, Lemey P, Peacock TP, Popescu S, Rambaut A, Robertson DL, Suchard MA, Wertheim JO, Rasmussen AL, Andersen KG, Worobey M, Débarre F.
Abstract
Zoonotic spillovers of viruses have occurred through the animal trade worldwide. The start of the COVID-19 pandemic was traced epidemiologically to the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market. Here, we analyze environmental qPCR and sequencing data collected in the Huanan market in early 2020. We demonstrate that market-linked severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genetic diversity is consistent with market emergence and find increased SARS-CoV-2 positivity near and within a wildlife stall. We identify wildlife DNA in all SARS-CoV-2-positive samples from this stall, including species such as civets, bamboo rats, and raccoon dogs, previously identified as possible intermediate hosts. We also detect animal viruses that infect raccoon dogs, civets, and bamboo rats. Combining metagenomic and phylogenetic approaches, we recover genotypes of market animals and compare them with those from farms and other markets. This analysis provides the genetic basis for a shortlist of potential intermediate hosts of SARS-CoV-2 to prioritize for serological and viral sampling.
Press Release
Cell Press – Genetic tracing at the Huanan Seafood market further supports COVID animal origins
Media Coverage
Nature – COVID pandemic started in Wuhan market animals after all, suggests latest study
BBC – Genetic ghosts suggest Covid’s market origins
CNN – New analysis of samples from Wuhan animal market supports its role as a central site of early spread of Covid-19
Washington Post – Scientists again link covid pandemic origin to Wuhan market animals
Los Angeles Times – New genetic research points to Wuhan animal market as origin of COVID pandemic, study says
Newsweek – Scientists Shed Light on Wildlife Species at Origin of COVID-19 in Wuhan
NewScientist – Evidence points to Wuhan market as source of covid-19 outbreak
The Telegraph – Suppressed Chinese Covid ‘origins’ data published and reviewed in leading journal
The Times – ‘Beyond reasonable doubt’ that Covid began in market, scientists claim
Associated Press – A new genetic analysis of animals in the Wuhan market in 2019 may help find COVID-19’s origin
NPR – New research points to raccoon dogs in Wuhan market as pandemic trigger. It’s controversial
Daily Mail – It WASN’T a lab leak! Scientists say they’ve finally discovered the truth about the origins of Covid
Cosmos – Wuhan market increasingly likely origin point for COVID-19
Science Media Centre – Expert reaction to study on genetic tracing at the Huanan Seafood market to investigate possible COVID virus origins