First Eurasian cases of SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity in a free-ranging urban population of wild fallow deer

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infects wildlife. Recent studies highlighted that variants of concern (VOC) may expand into novel animal reservoirs with the potential for reverse zoonosis. North American white-tailed deer are the only deer species in which SARS-CoV-2 has been documented, raising the question whether further reservoir species exist as new VOC emerge. Here, we report the first cases of deer SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity in Eurasia, in a city population of fallow deer in Dublin, Ireland. Deer were seronegative in 2020 (circulating variant in humans: Alpha), one animal was seropositive in 2021 (Delta variant), and 57% of animals tested in 2022 were seropositive (Omicron variant). Ex vivo, a clinical isolate of Omicron BA.1 infected fallow deer precision cut lung slice type-2 pneumocytes, also a major target of infection in human lungs. Our findings suggest a change in host tropism as new variants emerged in the human reservoir, highlighting the importance of continued wildlife disease monitoring and limiting human-wildlife contacts.

Lack of detection of SARS-CoV-2 in British wildlife 2020–21 and first description of a stoat (Mustela erminea) Minacovirus

“…The limitations of volunteer sample submission meant that for many species blood, tissue or body fluids (such as pleural effusion) from which reasonable antibody recovery could be expected were unavailable. Commercial pan-species serology tests for SARS-CoV-2 are available and have been used in other studies of wildlife exposure to SARS-CoV-2 [31, 33, 34, 68] . However, these kits are not validated for all species and we do not know what the cross-reactivity is with some of the more divergent coronaviruses detected recently in European wildlife [42].…”

“…Commercial pan-species serology tests for SARS-CoV-2 are available and have been used in other studies of wildlife exposure to SARS-CoV-2 [31,33,34,68] . However, these kits are not validated for all species and we do not know what the cross-reactivity is with some of the more divergent coronaviruses detected recently in European wildlife [42].…”

“…in Britain or mainland Europe [28–30] although other related coronaviruses have been detected in these species. Reports in European deer prior to 2022 all failed to detect any exposure [31–33], but 57 % of fallow deer in Dublin, Ireland, seroconverted in early 2022 [34] and sporadic seropositivity in fallow and red deer in Spain in 2021–22 has also been reported [35]. Wild animal surveillance studies in mainland Europe have indicated sporadic detection in wild mustelids, including by quantitative (q)PCR in wild American mink ( N. vison ), particularly near farmed mink outbreaks, and one otter ( L. lutra ) [36–38].…”

Zoonotic and Reverse Zoonotic Transmission of SARS-CoV- Virus: A Perspective on Human-animal Interface

“…Following previous outbreaks of other coronaviruses, the SARS-CoV-2 virus is more contagious and poses a significant threat to human health with substantial economic losses (Adil et al 2021). Initially, the origin and spread of this virus was a subject of controversy and therefore, numerous studies have investigated its zoonotic potential by examining its ability to infect various animal species (Sit et al 2020;Bessière et al 2021;Gortazar et al 2021;Grome et al 2022;Purves et al 2023). Conversely, the virus has also shown the ability to transmit from humans to animals, resulting in varying degrees of infection in different animals.…”