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South China Agriculture University said Friday a joint study found pangolins to be the potential intermediate host of novel coronavirus.

After analyzing over 1,000 metagenome samples, the researchers from the university identified pangolins as a potential intermediate host of the virus. Through molecular biological detection, the researchers found out that the positive rate of the β coronavirus in pangolins is 70 percent.

Researchers then conducted viral isolation and identification. The results of the analysis of genome of the virus showed that the sequences of the isolated virus strains were 99 percent similar to those currently infecting humans.

The university said that the research is vital for the prevention and control of the current outbreak of the novel coronavirus pneumonia.

(Compiled by Shan Xin, with input from CGTN)