Detection of a New Coronavirus Strain in Swedish Rodents

In numerous studies relating to COVID-19 and the pandemic, many animals were found to harbour the virus. They tend to be species of bat, rodent, and pangolin found across the world. There is a strain that can jump from these animals to humans.

The Swedish researchers, in a novel study, identified a new strain of the coronavirus, in a rodent. The particular type of rodent is called, red-backed bank voles or Myodes glareolus. The virus identified in the rodent is called the Grimso virus. Therefore, rodents may act as CoV reservoirs and can spread the coronavirus to humans, resulting in infectious diseases for humans.

Many zoonotic pathogens are carried by bank voles in Europe, including Puumala orthohantavirus and Francisella tularensis. These animals have been found to carry alpha- and beta-CoVs at different times.

Two complete Grimso virus sequences were discovered in this study, along with their evolutionary relationships with other CoVs from rodents. In Grimso, Sweden, between 2015 and 2017, bank vole sequences were collected from a single site for a three-year sampling period.

Several zoonotic microorganisms are already carried by rats, such as Hantaviruses and Tularemia, making them an important vector for the spread of infectious diseases. Researchers are researching the ecology of these host animals to prevent future outbreaks of infectious diseases linked to small mammals, such as rodents.