Palmer Mitchell V, Martins Mathias, Falkenberg Shollie, Buckley Alexandra, Caserta Leonardo C, Mitchell Patrick K, Cassmann Eric D, Rollins Alicia, Zylich Nancy C, Renshaw Randall W, Guarino Cassandra, Wagner Bettina, Lager Kelly, Diel Diego G
Infectious Bacterial Diseases Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Ames, Iowa, USA
Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.
J Virol. 2021 May 10;95(11). doi: 10.1128/JVI.00083-21. Epub 2021 Mar 10.
The origin of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus causing the global coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic, remains a mystery. Current evidence suggests a likely spillover into humans from an animal reservoir. Understanding the host range and identifying animal species that are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection may help to elucidate the origin of the virus and the mechanisms underlying cross-species transmission to humans. Here we demonstrated that white-tailed deer (), an animal species in which the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) - the SARS-CoV-2 receptor - shares a high degree of similarity to humans, are highly susceptible to infection. Intranasal inoculation of deer fawns with SARS-CoV-2 resulted in established subclinical viral infection and shedding of infectious virus in nasal secretions. Notably, infected animals transmitted the virus to non-inoculated contact deer. Viral RNA was detected in multiple tissues 21 days post-inoculation (pi). All inoculated and indirect contact animals seroconverted and developed neutralizing antibodies as early as day 7 pi. The work provides important insights into the animal host range of SARS-CoV-2 and identifies white-tailed deer as a susceptible wild animal species to the virus.Given the presumed zoonotic origin of SARS-CoV-2, the human-animal-environment interface of COVID-19 pandemic is an area of great scientific and public- and animal-health interest. Identification of animal species that are susceptible to infection by SARS-CoV-2 may help to elucidate the potential origin of the virus, identify potential reservoirs or intermediate hosts, and define the mechanisms underlying cross-species transmission to humans. Additionally, it may also provide information and help to prevent potential reverse zoonosis that could lead to the establishment of a new wildlife hosts. Our data show that upon intranasal inoculation, white-tailed deer became subclinically infected and shed infectious SARS-CoV-2 in nasal secretions and feces. Importantly, indirect contact animals were infected and shed infectious virus, indicating efficient SARS-CoV-2 transmission from inoculated animals. These findings support the inclusion of wild cervid species in investigations conducted to assess potential reservoirs or sources of SARS-CoV-2 of infection.
导致全球冠状病毒病19（COVID-19）大流行的严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV-2）的起源仍是一个谜。目前的证据表明，它可能是从动物宿主溢出传染给人类的。了解宿主范围并确定易感染SARS-CoV-2的动物物种，可能有助于阐明病毒的起源以及跨物种传播给人类的潜在机制。在此，我们证明了白尾鹿，一种其血管紧张素转换酶2（ACE2）——SARS-CoV-2的受体——与人类具有高度相似性的动物，对感染高度易感。用SARS-CoV-2对小鹿进行鼻内接种导致了隐匿性病毒感染的建立，并在鼻分泌物中排出传染性病毒。值得注意的是，受感染的动物将病毒传播给了未接种的接触鹿。接种后21天（pi）在多个组织中检测到病毒RNA。所有接种和间接接触的动物最早在接种后第7天就发生了血清转化并产生了中和抗体。这项研究为SARS-CoV-2的动物宿主范围提供了重要见解，并确定白尾鹿是该病毒易感的野生动物物种。鉴于SARS-CoV-2推测为人畜共患起源，COVID-19大流行的人-动物-环境界面是一个具有重大科学以及公共和动物健康意义的领域。确定易感染SARS-CoV-2的动物物种可能有助于阐明病毒的潜在起源，确定潜在宿主或中间宿主，并明确跨物种传播给人类的潜在机制。此外，它还可能提供信息并有助于预防可能导致新的野生动物宿主形成的潜在反向人畜共患病。我们的数据表明，经鼻内接种后，白尾鹿发生了隐匿性感染，并在鼻分泌物和粪便中排出传染性SARS-CoV-2。重要的是，间接接触的动物被感染并排出传染性病毒，表明接种动物能有效传播SARS-CoV-2。这些发现支持将野生鹿科物种纳入评估SARS-CoV-2潜在宿主或感染源的调查中。
