In a recent study, Klimpel and Co, in collaboration with the Friedrich Loeffler Institute on the island of Riems, Greifswald, carried out a risk analysis on the infection and transmissibility of the coronavirus, West Nile virus and Usutu virus using 229 raccoons. To this end, they examined blood samples from raccoons from various trapping areas in Germany for the three viruses and their antibodies. All samples tested were molecularly negative, but some were serologically positive for West Nile virus and Usutu virus. The scientists concluded that the results do not currently provide any concrete evidence of the spread of or susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 in the German raccoon population. However, the serological findings showed that raccoons can be infected with both the West Nile virus and the Usutu virus.
Raccoons infected with potentially dangerous viruses
Raccoons can be infected with both the West Nile virus and the Usutu virus. Researchers have detected antibodies against West Nile and Usutu viruses in blood samples from raccoons in Germany, but not for the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.
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