07-10-2020
Covid-19

DOZENS of common animals may be vulnerable to Sars-CoV-2 � the virus that causes Covid-19.

Sheep, squirrels, hamsters and 25 other mammals could be susceptible to infection by the deadly virus, scientists have warned.A total of 215 different animals were examined as part of the groundbreaking study.Scientists already knew that dogs and cats are both at risk of infection.But other household pets like guinea pigs, hamsters and rabbits may also be vulnerable.Farm and zoo animals are also at risk of being infected by the virus. A total of 215 different animals were examined as part of the groundbreaking study.

First, scientists investigated how the virus' spike protein interacts with the ACE2 protein it attaches to � as part of the infection process.
Animals have mutated versions of the ACE2 protein that make it different from our own.Scientists examined whether these differences would reduce the stability of the bond between the virus protein and the host protein.It's this binding process that gives the virus entry to your cells.
And it turns out that for some animals � including sheep and great apes � the proteins can bind together as strongly as in a human.

A total of 28 animals that are regularly in contact with humans were highlighted as part of the study.However, it's important to note that this isn't proof that each animal can definitely be infected.And there's no guarantee that transmission is possible in all cases either.