Investigation of the SARS-CoV-2 post-vaccination antibody response in Canadian farmed mink

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Currently, SARS-CoV-2 have been detected in farmed mink in 13 different countries. Due to the high susceptibility and transmissibility among mink, great concerns of mink serving as a reservoir to generate novel variants with unknown virulence and antigenic properties arose. These concerns have consequently resulted in entire mink productions being culled and banned. This study investigates the post-vaccination antibody response in the Canadian farmed mink vaccinated with a commercial Index spike protein-based vaccine, approved for use in cats, and compares the antibody response to that observed post infection in Danish farmed mink. Blood samples were obtained from 50 mink at the Canadian Centre for Fur Animal Research (CCFAR), Dalhousie University (Truro, Canada). The sera were initially analyzed for antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and selected sera was subsequently tested in a virus neutralization tests. The levels of neutralizing antibodies were evaluated for an ancestral D614G strain and a recent circulating SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern (Omicron BA.4). The results revealed that the vaccine induced a strong antibody response in mink by reaching antibody titer levels of up to 1:12800 in the ELISA. Moreover, high levels of neutralizing antibodies were obtained, and despite the great level of genetic differences between the ancestral and Omicron BA.4 strains, the vaccinated mink showed high levels of cross-reacting neutralizing antibodies. Interestingly, the antibody levels towards SARS-CoV-2 in the Canadian vaccinated mink were significantly higher than observed in recently SARS-CoV-2 infected Danish mink and equal to anamnestic responses following re-infection. In conclusion, the vaccine used in the Canadian farmed mink was able to induce a strong and broad-reacting antibody response in mink, which could limit the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in farmed mink and thereby reduce the risk of mink serving as a SARS-CoV-2 reservoir for human infections.
OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftVaccine
Vol/bind41
Udgave nummer49
Sider (fra-til)7387-7394
ISSN0264-410X
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2023

Bibliografisk note

Funding Information:
This research was funded by The University of Copenhagen and Mitacs Globalink Award Program .

Funding Information:
The authors gratefully acknowlegde the Mitacs Globalink Award Program (grant ID: IT32236) for the financial support of the project. In addition, the authors wish to state great appreciation of the assistance of gifted technicians especially Suheil Nasim and Ria Lassuniére at Statens Serum Institute (SSI) for helping to perform the Wantai ELISA, dilutions and BSL3 virus neutralization test. Further an acknowledgement to colleagues at Copenhagen University section of Veterinary Clinical Microbiology and especially Denis Selnihhin for helping whenever possible, contributing to great discussions, support, and advisement through the project. Staff at the CCFAR unit at Dalhousie University Michael McConkey, Rae MacInnes, and Annette Murphy as well as Dr. Dave MacHattie, Dr. John. Easley and Dr. Duy Ngoc who also provided great advice, support and help during the project.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s)

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