FACT BRIEF

Does a type of coronavirus attacking digestive systems in pigs have the potential to spread to humans?

Thursday, December 17, 2020

By Sabrina Scoggin

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YES

A gastrointestinal virus that infected pigs in China in 2016 has “inherent potential” to spread between animal and human hosts, based on laboratory testing reported by University of North Carolina researchers. Tests showed the virus, known as SADS-CoV, or swine acute diarrhea syndrome coronavirus, can replicate in human lung, intestinal and respiratory tract cells. In pigs it causes severe diarrhea and vomiting.

The virus is from the same family as the virus that caused SARS, which emerged from China in 2002, and the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The initial outbreak was slowed in 2017 by separating sick sows and piglets from the rest of the herd. Investigators confirmed its connection to bats.

Researchers have observed that SADS-CoV has the broadest range of cell tropism, or ability to infect cells, out of all coronaviruses, implying a high risk of cross-species transmission.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

Science Daily: Swine coronavirus replicates in human cells

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences: Swine coronavirus and potential susceptibility to human infection

Virologica Sinica: Cross-species infection risk of SADS-CoV

National Institutes of Health: New coronavirus emerges from bats in China, devastates young swine

Centers for Disease Control: Coronavirus types

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