Researchers in the United Kingdom have conducted a comprehensive screening program for sarbecoviruses and pan-coronaviruses in British wildlife to investigate the occurrence of widespread spillover events. The study utilized polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect viral RNA and identified a novel minacovirus in stoats recently introduced to the Orkney Islands. Published on the bioRxiv preprint server, this groundbreaking research is shedding new light on coronavirus infections in wild animals, and identifies a potentially significant viral reservoir in stoats. While sarbecovirus infection was not detected, coronavirus infection was identified in 57% of rectal samples collected from stoats. The newly discovered minacovirus was shown to be closely related to mink and ferret alpha-coronaviruses, and further research is needed to understand the pathogenicity of this novel virus in stoats. It is important to note that these findings are preliminary and should not be treated as established information, but rather as a starting point for more in-depth research into the risks presented by coronavirus infections in British wildlife.
