biostudies-literatureKok KHShaw Foundation Hong Kong,Food and Health BureauHui Ming, Hui Hoy and Chow Sin Lan Charity Fund LimitedConsultancy Service for Enhancing Laboratory Surveillance of Emerging Infectious DiseasesHealth and Medical Research FundTheme-based Research SchemeMichael Seak-Kan Tong, May Tam Mak Mei Yin Lee Wan Keung Charity Foundation LimitedResearch Capability on Antimicrobial Resistance for Department of Health of the HKSARLo Ying Shek Chi Wai FoundationProvidence Foundation LimitedMarina Man-Wai LeeThe Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative RegionHong Kong Hainan Commercial Association South China Microbiology Research FundUniversity Grant Committee689-698https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8890519biostudies-literatureUnknown11(1)During the investigation of a pet shop outbreak of severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with probable hamster-to-human transmission, the environmental and hamster samples in epidemiologically linked pet shops were found positive for SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant AY.127 strains which are phylogenetically closely related to patients and reported European strains. This interspecies' spill-over has triggered transmission in 58 patients epidemiologically linked to three pet shops. Incidentally, three dwarf hamsters imported from the Netherlands and centralized in a warehouse distributing animals to pet shops were positive for SARS-CoV-2 spike variant phylogenetically related to European B.1.258 strains from March 2020. This B.1.258 strain almost disappeared in July 2021. While no hamsEmerging microbes & infectionsCo-circulation of two SARS-CoV-2 variant strains within imported pet hamsters in Hong Kong.PMC88905196 and 9COVID1903010 – Project 1T11-709/21-NChu AWChan WMIp JDNg KNHLo HWLung DWen LLam BHHo AYCheng VCWong SCSiu GKYuen KYTse HLee LKKok KHWong ITAu AKfalseCo-circulation of two SARS-CoV-2 variant strains within imported pet hamsters in Hong Kong.During the investigation of a pet shop outbreak of severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with probable hamster-to-human transmission, the environmental and hamster samples in epidemiologically linked pet shops were found positive for SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant AY.127 strains which are phylogenetically closely related to patients and reported European strains. This interspecies' spill-over has triggered transmission in 58 patients epidemiologically linked to three pet shops. Incidentally, three dwarf hamsters imported from the Netherlands and centralized in a warehouse distributing animals to pet shops were positive for SARS-CoV-2 spike variant phylogenetically related to European B.1.258 strains from March 2020. This B.1.258 strain almost disappeared in July 2021. While no hams2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Dec2025-04-04T19:30:12.863Z2025-04-04T19:30:12.863ZS-EPMC88905193513544110.1080/22221751.2022.2040922