Deer with white tail have been shown to be susceptible to severe respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) syndrome. They can also transmit the virus both through direct and indirect contact with each other, researchers found. The research paper is available to read online at the Iris Virology.
The origin of SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent for coronavirus infection 2019 (COVID-19), is still unknown. Genome sequencing of the virus to date has provided evidence of a mutation in mice in bats. However, in the absence of evidence for the direct transmission of human bats, it appears that COVID-19 was transmitted to humans through an intermediate animal host, as seen in previous coronavirus events.
COVID-19 has been observed to be transmissible from humans to various species of animals, such as ferrets, minks, dogs, cats, hamsters, and, not surprisingly, non-human primates. This transgender movement has raised concerns about local wildlife outbreaks of the pandemic.
SARS-CoV-2 binds to the angiotensin-converting enzyme receptor 2 (ACE2) of human cells. Researchers in the United States suspected that some species of deer, such as the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginiaus), they would also be susceptible to the virus, since their ACE2 receptors are highly homologous to human-ACE2.
Diego Diel and his colleagues experimented with a small group of 4 white-tailed deer with SARS-CoV-2 and kept home in a pen next to 2 healthy lawns divided by a plexiglass screen. No clinical signs of disease were observed in the animals; however, the virus was able to rapidly reproduce itself and infect the healthy animals through fecal droplets and nasal secretions.
The conclusions of this research paper are important, assuming the zoonotic origin of SARS-CoV-2, as it has identified more animal species susceptible to the disease.
The authors note that not all of the individual animals used were just six weeks old at the start of the study, and none had underlying health conditions. In humans, 80% of cases are either asymptomatic or mild. The majority of serious and fatal cases are found in the elderly or in individuals – the researchers suspect the same would be true in white-tailed deer populations.
Two other deer species, Elephurus davidianus and Tarandus Rangifer, ACE2 homology is similar. It would therefore appear that the virus could also establish itself in these species, although their effect is not yet known.
The researchers also noted that other cervical species need to be considered in future studies to identify species that may be COVID-19 reservoirs.
COVID-19 has once again been shown to be transmitted over both human and animal hosts and does not appear to show much discrimination for transgender transmission. This highlights the need for stricter restrictions to prevent the spread of virus to vulnerable wildlife populations, and to prevent persistent outbreaks in local communities.