Scientists in Hong Kong say SARS may have jumped from animals to people. Genetic tests indicate a SARS-like virus infected animals sold as delicacies at a Chinese market.

Researchers in Hong Kong compared the genetic makeup of the virus isolated from humans to the virus found in wild animals at a food market in southern China.

The 18-member team found the animal versions of the coronaviruses were 99.8 per cent genetically identical to the human version.

Civet cats are a suspected reservoir for a SARS-like virus

They tested eight animals, 95 workers at the market and patients hospitalized for diseases other than SARS.

"Our findings suggest that the markets provide a venue for the animal (coronavirus) viruses to amplify and transmit to new hosts, including humans and this is critically important from the point of view of public health," the researchers wrote in Friday's issue of the journal Science.

The findings suggest the animal version is similar enough that SARS jumped from animals, as the influenza virus has.

Concert goer at July 30 SARS Benefit in Toronto

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome was first recognized in China's Guangdong province in November. Symptoms include high fever and severe pneumonia.

SARS spread to Hong Kong and then through air travel to more than 30 countries. Between November and May, more than 7,900 people worldwide developed SARS and more than 800 died, including 44 in Toronto.

Researchers found the virus in palm civets, a raccoon-like delicacy that was the lead suspect. They also found coronavirus in a raccoon dog and a ferret badger.

It is not clear if the animals are the natural source of the virus, since they may have been infected from yet another unknown animal source, the scientists said.

Chinese officials banned the sale of civet cats to prevent the spread of the virus but the ban was lifted last month.

Yi Guan and colleagues at the University of Hong Kong found antibodies to the virus in workers who never came down with SARS, which suggests their immune systems fought off the disease. None of the hospital patients tested had evidence of exposure.

Guan's team wrote that the human version of the coronavirus was missing a long genetic sequence, which suggests changes are needed to make the virus infect humans. Scientists don't yet know what the sequence does.