Raccoon dogs linked to coronavirus pandemic

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in news?
• News Summary: Raccoon dogs linked to coronavirus pandemic
• What are raccoon dogs?
• Where are raccoon dogs found?
• Why were raccoon dogs being sold in Wuhan?
• Have raccoon dogs been linked to other diseases?

Why in news?

• A new analysis of genetic data collected from the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan, China, has linked coronavirus to raccoon dogs.
• The new findings have further added evidence to the belief that the pandemic might have originated from the infected animals sold at the site.

News Summary: Raccoon dogs linked to coronavirus pandemic

• An international team of virus experts found genetic data from a market in Wuhan, China, linking the coronavirus with raccoon dogs for sale there.

What are raccoon dogs?

• Raccoon dogs are neither dogs nor raccoons. They belong to the canid family and are closely related to foxes. They are the only canids that hibernate during the winter.
  • The Canid family, also known as Canidae, is a biological family of carnivorous mammals that includes domestic dogs, wolves, foxes, coyotes, jackals, and several other species.
• As per the experts, there are two species of raccoon dogs: 
  • “Nyctereutes procyonoides, the common raccoon dog (the species that was in the Wuhan market) and 
  • Nyctereutes p. viverrinus, the Japanese raccoon dog.”
• These animals are omnivores and relish food sources such as rodents and berries.

Where are raccoon dogs found?

• Raccoon dogs are originally from East Asia and are commonly found in parts of China, Korea and Japan, where they are known as tanuki. 
• They are also found in Europe, where they were first brought in by fur traders in the 1920s.

Why were raccoon dogs being sold in Wuhan?

• For decades, these animals have been farmed for their fur. Every year, millions of them are killed in China, which is a leading producer of raccoon dog pelts.
• To meet this huge demand, sellers raise raccoon dogs in small and crowded facilities while transporting them in small cages, often stacked with those of other animals. 
• This serves as a perfect breeding ground for the spread of different diseases.

Have raccoon dogs been linked to other diseases?

• A report published by NPR said, raccoon dogs and related mammals sold for food at a live animal market in China in 2003 were found to carry a coronavirus similar to the virus found in humans during a SARS coronavirus outbreak at the time.
• A 2022 study in China found that wild animals known to be consumed by humans, including raccoon dogs, carried 102 different viruses from 13 viral families — 21 of those posed a high-risk to humans.
• The study also added that raccoon dogs specifically carried four canine coronaviruses that were genetically similar to those found in humans.
• But this doesn’t mean they are the natural reservoir for coronaviruses. Scientists believe there is a possibility the tested raccoon dogs, including those in the Wuhan market, might have picked up the virus from bats or another species.

Q1) What is canid family?

The Canid family, also known as Canidae, is a biological family of carnivorous mammals that includes domestic dogs, wolves, foxes, coyotes, jackals, and several other species. Members of the Canid family are characterized by their long snouts, pointed ears, sharp teeth, and agile bodies, which are adapted for hunting and scavenging.

Q2) What is Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan?

The Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market is a large seafood and live animal market located in the city of Wuhan, in Hubei province, China. It gained worldwide attention in late 2019 when it was identified as the potential epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak. The market is known for selling a wide variety of fresh and frozen seafood, as well as other live animals such as chickens, snakes, and civet cats. The market is also a popular destination for tourists and locals alike, and is known for its bustling atmosphere and diverse range of products.

Source: Raccoon dogs linked to coronavirus pandemic: What are these animals? | NPR | NyTimes