Researchers find deer carry SARS-CoV-2 variants that are extinct in humans

Cornell University researchers say white-tailed deer, the most abundant large mammal in North America, harbor a once widespread SARS-CoV-2 variant that is no longer found in humans. I found

As scientists continue to collect and analyze new data, it is not yet known whether deer can serve as long-term reservoirs for these obsolete subspecies.

A study published in the journal on January 31 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciencesrepresenting one of the most comprehensive studies to date to assess prevalence. genetic diversity and the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 white-tailed deer.

“One of the most striking findings of this study is the detection of co-circulation of three variants of concern (alpha, gamma, and delta) in this wildlife population,” said Cornell University in Population Medicine and said Diego Diel, Associate Professor of Diagnostic Science. .

During the course of the pandemic, deer became infected with SARS-CoV-2 through continued human contact, possibly through hunting, wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife feeding, or wastewater and water sources.

“The virus that emerged in humans in Asia has apparently or potentially found a new wildlife reservoir in North America, possibly after a spillover event from animal reservoirs to humans.

The 5,700 samples used in this study were collected over two years in New York from 2020-2022.

Comparing the genomic sequence of the mutant found in deer with that of the same mutant from humans across New York showed that the virus mutated in deer.For example, by the time the alpha and gamma mutants were detected in deer, there was no evidence that these virus strains were still circulating in humans. Mutant has been detected in humans in New York for 4-6 months.

“When we performed sequence comparisons between the virus recovered from white-tailed deer and human sequences, we observed a significant number of mutations throughout the viral genome.” human This provides further evidence that the virus has likely been circulating in deer for some time. This mutation suggests that the virus has adapted to deer and may be more transmissible among deer.

Further research is needed to confirm whether these variants disappear from deer over time or whether SARS-CoV-2 is at risk of spreading to other wildlife, including predators.

“Because of the evidence from our study, continued surveillance is very important. virus in these animal population It’s about really understanding and tracking the changes that can affect or contribute to humans and other wildlife,” Deal said.

There are an estimated 30 million white-tailed deer in the United States. His 2022 study by Deal et al. found that his SARS-CoV-2 was detected in up to 40% of white-tailed deer in his five states surveyed in 2021.