Chinese Huanan Agricultural University "Armadillo as a Possible Intermediate Host of Novel Coronavirus"

Endangered Species Armadillo / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Seul-gi] A study has revealed that the novel coronavirus (Wuhan pneumonia) may have been transmitted to humans through the endangered species 'Armadillo.'

On the 7th, South China Agricultural University announced on its official social network service (SNS) account that "the armadillo is a potential intermediate host of the novel coronavirus."

The university explained, "This research result has significant implications for the prevention and control of the novel coronavirus." The study involved South China Agricultural University, the People's Liberation Army Academy of Military Sciences, and the Guangzhou Zoo Science Research Department.

The armadillo is an endangered species and a mammal belonging to the family Dasypodidae. There are a total of twenty species, and it is known to transmit leprosy to humans.

In China, some people believe that armadillos are good for health, which has led to campaigns to protect armadillos.

On the 7th, South China Agricultural University officially stated on its social network service (SNS) account that the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) may have been transmitted to humans through the endangered species 'armadillo'.
Photo by South China Agricultural University, screenshot of the official SNS account on the 7th.

Many scientists estimate that the novel coronavirus was transmitted from wild animals to humans. The prevailing view is that it started from bats, passed through an intermediate animal, and then spread to humans.

Zhong Nanshan, the top authority on respiratory diseases in China and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, suggested that the novel coronavirus was likely transmitted to humans from wild animals sold at the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan, mentioning animals such as badgers and bamboo rats.

Researchers from the Shanghai Pasteur Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Academy of Military Medical Sciences stated in a paper, "The natural host of the novel coronavirus is likely bats," and "there is a high possibility of an unknown intermediate host mediating between bats and humans."

Jin Qi, director of the Institute of Hospital Biology at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, announced research results suggesting, "The virus started in bats, was transmitted to minks as an intermediate host, and then spread to humans."

The researchers concluded, "The novel coronavirus and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) appear to share a common ancestor in the 'HKU9-1 virus' found in large fruit bats."

Previously, SARS was known to have been transmitted from viruses in bats to civet cats and then to humans.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.