(ORDO NEWS) — Chinese molecular biologists have found a large number of particles of the “human” coronavirus in samples from the surface of objects and objects collected in the western part of the Wuhan exotic food market in early January 2020.
“Our analysis indicated the presence of virus particles and SARS-CoV-2 RNA fragments in 73 samples collected from the surface of various objects in the Wuhan market, but we did not find traces of the virus in the body of any animal.
The largest number of positive samples was collected in the western part of the market, where wild animals were sold in the past,” the researchers write.
The first carriers of COVID-19 were allegedly infected in the Wuhan exotic food market, leading scientists to believe that the source of the infection was the animals sold at this site.
Subsequently, doctors identified several early cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection, which were presumably not directly related to the exotic food market.
For this reason, researchers began to doubt that the market was the only site of transmission of the virus from animals to humans and the first major point of spread of COVID-19 in the human population.
The search for the primary carriers of coronavirus
A team of Chinese scientists led by William Liu, a professor at the National Institute for the Control and Prevention of the Spread of Virus Diseases in Beijing, learned that the coronavirus was present in the Wuhan exotic food market in its earliest stages of spread.
To do this, they analyzed samples collected in the market and its immediate surroundings at the end of December 2019 and in January-February 2020.
The samples included body tissue samples from animals that lived on the territory of the market, whose meat was sold on the market or that lived on its territory.
The team also analyzed swabs from the surface of refrigeration units, counters and other items, as well as sewage samples from local sewers and treatment plants.
In total, specialized medical services collected 923 samples.
The analysis showed that fragments of coronavirus RNA or viable particles were absent in all studied tissues of animal bodies.
However, they were found in 73 swabs collected from objects in different parts of the market, as well as in all four wastewater samples.
The largest number of positive samples were collected in 19 stores located in the western part of the market, where at the time of the beginning of the pandemic there were outlets with live animals.
According to Professor Liu and his colleagues, the absence of virus particles in animal tissues makes it impossible to accurately determine the original source of COVID-19.
At the same time, scientists hope that further study of animal DNA samples found along with genome fragments and viable particles of SARS-CoV-2 will help them narrow down the number of candidates for the role of the primary carriers of the virus among wild and domestic animals living on the market at the end of 2019.
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