A new study has identified civet cats and bamboo rats, along with raccoon dogs, as potential intermediate host species for the COVID-19 virus at the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan, China. The market, considered the pandemic’s epicentre, was previously linked to the transmission of the virus to humans.

An international team of scientists published their findings in the journal Cell, revealing that bamboo rats, Malayan porcupines, and Amur hedgehogs are also among the species that could have played a role in the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The researchers conducted a genetic analysis of over 800 samples taken from floors, walls, and drains at the market since January 2020.

The study suggests prioritizing these animals for further investigation to better understand their susceptibility to the virus and their role in the pandemic’s origins.