SARS-COV-2 FORTHCOMING TRAJECTORIES: KEEP AN EYE ON ANIMALS! Stampa

To the best of my knowledge, mink is thus far the only species, apart from the human one, in which SARS-CoV-2, once acquired from man (so-called "spillover"), is able to undergo a series of mutational events leading to a virus subsequently re-transmitted to humans (so-called "spillback"), which is different from the one originally caught from their breeders and keepers. In light of the above, why not consider the possibility of vaccinating animals against SARS-CoV-2, with special emphasis on those living in close contact with humans and, overall, on intensely reared animals, such as minks and pigs? As a matter fact, by encountering more and more susceptible (and non-immunized) animal hosts along its way, the possibility that SARS-CoV-2 will continue to "mutate" - independently from human mass vaccination against CoViD-19 - should be adequately taken into account, thereby utilizing a simultaneous "One Health" and "evidence-based" approach, the former of which reminds us that human, animal and environmental health are indissolubly linked to each other. (F: G. Di Guardo, Letter to BMJ may 2021)
References
1) Di Guardo G. (2020) - Animal models and pathogenetic insights to CoViD-19. Journal of Comparative Pathology 179: e1.
2) Shi J., et al. (2020) - Susceptibility of ferrets, cats, dogs, and other domesticated animals to SARS-coronavirus 2. Science 368: 1016-1020.