Hamsters Vulnerable To Covid-19

March 1, 2022

Photo credit: Arya 

 

Since the beginning of the pandemic, we’ve learned that pets as well as humans can contract the Corona virus. We’ve seen cases in both cats and dogs. Cats are particularly susceptible to the virus and this includes the big cats, such as tiger cats.

 

Other animals have been affected by Covid-19 too, including farmed animals such as mink and  wild animals such as white-tailed deer.

 

Much research is being done, looking into these particular cases, to find out if the virus was spread via human or animal, and whether it is transmissible back to the host. It will help to broaden our knowledge of the virus, so we have a better understanding of its existence.

 

The most recent pets to have contracted Covid-19 are a bunch of hamsters found at a pet store in Hong Kong. Fifty cases of a Delta variant, not recognized locally, were detected in patrons of the store after testing and genetic analysis. 

 

The researchers conducted RT-PCR tests on all animals in the pet store and warehouse and found, “50% of individually tested Syrian hamsters in the pet shop (8/16) and warehouse (7/12) were positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection.” 

 

Dwarf hamsters, together with rabbits, Guinea pigs, chinchillas and mice were not infected. 

 

The researchers of the case study in Hong Kong concluded:

 

“Pet hamsters can be naturally infected in “real-life” settings. The virus can circulate within hamsters and lead to human infections. Both genetic and epidemiological results strongly suggest that there were two independent hamster-to-human transmission and that such events can lead to onward human transmission. Importation of infected hamsters was the most likely source of virus infection.”

 

What does this study teach us?

 

  • Not all pet hamsters are susceptible to Corona virus
  • Syrian hamsters are vulnerable to Covid-19
  • Check your pet hamsters for signs of infection
  • Check the background of your hamster and avoid imported hamsters
  • Quarantine your Syrian hamster if any member of your household contracts Covid-19

 

Syrian hamsters can make great pets, especially if you’re a night owl and love staying up late at night. You’ll have lots of company, as this is the time hamsters are most active. 

 

Many other colour varieties exist in Syrian hamsters, including:

 

  1. Black
  2. Cream
  3. Cinnamon
  4. White
  5. Rust
  6. Dark Grey
  7. Light Grey
  8. Silver Grey
  9. Yellow
  10. Beige
  11. Sable
  12. Ivory
  13. Honey
  14. Lilac
  15. Blonde
  16. Copper
  17. Blue Mink
  18. Mink
  19. Blue

 

Syrian hamsters can live for more than 2 years and grow to about 6 inches long. They are the most popular of hamsters kept as pets and are usually golden brown with a white belly. They’re the same hamster that we all know as Hammie the Hamster.