OmniVira

Wild Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) Do Not Play a Role as Vectors or Reservoirs of SARS-CoV-2 in North-Eastern Poland.

Martyna Krupińska1 Jakub Borkowski2 Aleksander Goll1 Joanna Nowicka1 Karolina Baranowicz1 Vincent Bourret3,4,5 Tomas Strandin3 Sanna Mäki3 Ravi Kant3,4 Tarja Sironen3,4 Maciej Grzybek1
Affiliations 5 institutions
  1. Department of Tropical Parasitology, Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, 81-519 Gdynia, Poland.
  2. Department of Forestry and Forest Ecology, University of Warmia and Mazury, 10-727 Olsztyn, Poland.
  3. Department of Virology, Medicum, University of Helsinki, 00290 Helsinki, Finland.
  4. Department of Basic Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00790 Helsinki, Finland.
  5. INRAE-Université de Toulouse UR 0035 CEFS, 31326 Castanet Tolosan, France.
PMID36298844 DOI10.3390/v14102290 Year2022 Journal Viruses Languageeng Statusepublish

Abstract

Several studies reported a high prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among white-tailed deer in North America. Monitoring cervids in all regions to better understand SARS-CoV-2 infection and circulation in other deer populations has been urged. To evaluate deer exposure and/or infection to/by SARS-CoV-2 in Poland, we sampled 90 red deer shot by hunters in five hunting districts in north-eastern Poland. Serum and nasopharyngeal swabs were collected, and then an immunofluorescent assay (IFA) to detect anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was performed as well as real-time PCR with reverse transcription for direct virus detection. No positive samples were detected. There is no evidence of spillover of SARS-CoV-2 from the human to deer population in Poland.

Supporting text Virus Host Location
cervid 2 deer 47 SARS-CoV-2 550 spillover 105 susceptibility 12 transmission 55 COVID-19 425 Deer 46 Animals 1948 Animals, Wild 187 Humans 1440 Poland 9 SARS-CoV-2 453

Evidence records

3 total
Zoonotic Surveillance
3 records · 3 evidence types
Evidence type Viral Detection
1 records
OVE6476 Viral Detection
Key finding

SARS-CoV-2 RNA was not detected by real-time RT-PCR in nasopharyngeal swabs from red deer in north-eastern Poland.

Virus
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Host
red deer Cervus elaphus Natural host
Location
Poland
Supporting text

To evaluate deer exposure and/or infection to/by SARS-CoV-2 in Poland, we sampled 90 red deer shot by hunters in five hunting districts in north-eastern Poland. Serum and nasopharyngeal swabs were collected, and then an immunofluorescent assay (IFA) to detect anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was performed as well as real-time PCR with reverse transcription for direct virus detection. No positive samples were detected.

Method
real-time PCR with reverse transcription
Sample type
nasopharyngeal swabs
Geographic raw
north-eastern Poland
Country inferred
POL
Evidence type Serological Evidence
1 records
OVE6477 Serological Evidence
Key finding

An immunofluorescent assay of serum samples from red deer in north‑eastern Poland found no anti‑SARS‑CoV‑2 antibodies.

Virus
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Host
red deer Cervus elaphus Natural host
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

Serum and nasopharyngeal swabs were collected, and then an immunofluorescent assay (IFA) to detect anti‑SARS‑CoV‑2 antibodies was performed... No positive samples were detected.

Method
immunofluorescent assay (IFA)
Sample type
serum
Evidence type Reservoir Ecology
1 records
OVE6479 Reservoir Ecology
Key finding

Wild red deer in north-eastern Poland were found not to act as reservoirs or vectors for SARS-CoV-2.

Virus
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Host
red deer Cervus elaphus Natural host
Location
Poland
Supporting text

Wild Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) Do Not Play a Role as Vectors or Reservoirs of SARS-CoV-2 in North-Eastern Poland.

Method
immunofluorescent assay (IFA) | real-time PCR with reverse transcription
Sample type
serum | nasopharyngeal swabs
Geographic raw
North-Eastern Poland
Country inferred
POL