Investigation of the Sars-Cov-2 Post-Vaccination Antibody Response in Canadian Farmed Mink

13 Pages Posted: 22 Aug 2023

See all articles by Line Gram Hansen

Line Gram Hansen

University of Copenhagen

Lars Erik Larsen

University of Copenhagen

Thomas Bruun Rasmussen

Statens Serum Institut

Younes Miar

Dalhousie University

Ria Lassauniere

Statens Serum Institut - Department of Virus and Microbiological Special Diagnostics

Charlotte S. Jørgensen

Statens Serum Institut

Pia Ryt-Hansen

University of Copenhagen

Abstract

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.

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

Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interests.

Ethical Approval Statement: The blood sampling protocol was reviewed and approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee of Dalhousie University with the protocol number 2022-042.

Keywords: Mink, Neogale vison, SARS-CoV-2, antibody response, vaccination, cross-protection

Suggested Citation

Hansen, Line Gram and Larsen, Lars Erik and Rasmussen, Thomas Bruun and Miar, Younes and Lassauniere, Ria and Jørgensen, Charlotte S. and Ryt-Hansen, Pia, Investigation of the Sars-Cov-2 Post-Vaccination Antibody Response in Canadian Farmed Mink. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4543383 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4543383

Line Gram Hansen

University of Copenhagen ( email )

Nørregade 10
Copenhagen, DK-1165
Denmark

Lars Erik Larsen

University of Copenhagen ( email )

Nørregade 10
Copenhagen, DK-1165
Denmark

Thomas Bruun Rasmussen

Statens Serum Institut ( email )

Younes Miar

Dalhousie University ( email )

Ria Lassauniere

Statens Serum Institut - Department of Virus and Microbiological Special Diagnostics ( email )

Charlotte S. Jørgensen

Statens Serum Institut ( email )

Denmark

Pia Ryt-Hansen (Contact Author)

University of Copenhagen ( email )

Nørregade 10
Copenhagen, DK-1165
Denmark

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