Recent Wildlife Exposure to SARS-CoV-2
Virginia Tech researchers tested 23 species of wildlife for SARS-CoV-2 infection. They collected 789 nasal and oral swabs and 126 blood samples from animals live-trapped and released or being treated at wildlife rehabilitation centers in Virginia and Washington, DC, from May 2022 to September 2023.
SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in 6 species including the deer mouse, Virginia opossum, raccoon, groundhog, Eastern cottontail, and Eastern red bat. SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence was three times higher in areas with the highest human activity such as hiking trails and other public areas. Antibodies were detected in some opossums, raccoons, Eastern gray squirrels, white-footed mice, and deer mice.
SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences from 9 individuals of 6 species revealed they belonged to the Pango lineage of the Omicron variant. The close match to SARS-CoV-2 variants that were circulating in humans during this timeframe suggests recent human to animal transmission events. Transmission to these animals could have taken place via wastewater, trash bins, or discarded food.
This study demonstrated that wildlife have been widely exposed to SARS-CoV-2, especially in areas with high human activity.
Reference
Goldberg AR et al. Widespread exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in wildlife communities, Nature Communications, 2024;15:1-13.
