Wednesday, October 08, 2003
NEW STUDY FAILS TO RULE PIGS OUT
AS SOURCE OF SARS
The Sars coronavirus is described as a "Frankenstein type"
virus that is partially related to a coronavirus
that infects pigs and other animals.
According to an article by Jenni Laidman in the Toledo Blade, "The SARS virus shows signs of Frankenstein-like construction, with one important gene cobbled together from two other viruses, a study by a University of Michigan researcher reveals."
According to the report, the scientists "discovered one end of the SARS replication gene was a sister to the coronaviruses that attack birds. The other end bore a resemblance to all other groups of coronaviruses, including those that prefer cattle, pigs and deer as well as those that attack rodents, horses and rhinoceroses."
As we have pointed out on this blog, there is some evidence that pigs in China may have died of a SARS-like illness prior to the outbreak of the illness in that country last year.As far as we know, there still has been no widespread testing for the Sars-associated coronavirus in pigs in the areas where SARS has broken out.
AS SOURCE OF SARS
The Sars coronavirus is described as a "Frankenstein type"
virus that is partially related to a coronavirus
that infects pigs and other animals.
According to an article by Jenni Laidman in the Toledo Blade, "The SARS virus shows signs of Frankenstein-like construction, with one important gene cobbled together from two other viruses, a study by a University of Michigan researcher reveals."
According to the report, the scientists "discovered one end of the SARS replication gene was a sister to the coronaviruses that attack birds. The other end bore a resemblance to all other groups of coronaviruses, including those that prefer cattle, pigs and deer as well as those that attack rodents, horses and rhinoceroses."
As we have pointed out on this blog, there is some evidence that pigs in China may have died of a SARS-like illness prior to the outbreak of the illness in that country last year.As far as we know, there still has been no widespread testing for the Sars-associated coronavirus in pigs in the areas where SARS has broken out.
