OmniVira

Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibody in Mississippi White-Tailed Deer.

Scoty Hearst1 Pedro M Palermo2 Douglas M Watts2 Kamen Campbell3 Ryan Ivey1 Caleb Young1 William Yarbrough1 Edward Facundus1 Jack Spears1 Stephen Mills1 Kaitlin A McNeely4 Priya Ray5 Grace C Burnett4 George T Bates6 John T Bates4,7,8
Affiliations 8 institutions
  1. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mississippi College, Clinton, Mississippi, USA.
  2. Department of Biological Sciences and Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA.
  3. Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, Deer Program, Jackson, Mississippi, USA.
  4. Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA.
  5. Summer Undergraduate Research Experience, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA.
  6. Alcorn State University, Lorman, Mississippi, USA.
  7. Department of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA.
  8. Center for Immunology and Microbial Research, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA.
PMID38695836 DOI10.1089/vbz.2023.0144 Year2024 Journal Vector borne and zoonotic diseases (Larchmont, N.Y.) Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis Languageeng Publication statusActive
Active Last checked 2026-10-02 03:30:39 Source: NCBI PubMed

Abstract

Background: Early detection and monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 infections in animal populations living in close proximity to humans is crucial for preventing reverse zoonosis of new viral strains. Evidence accumulated has revealed widespread SARS-CoV-2 infection among white-tailed deer (WTD), (Odocoileus virginianus) populations in the United States except in the southeast region. Therefore, the objective was to conduct surveillance for evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among WTD in Mississippi. Materials and Methods: Blood, kidney tissues, and nasal swab samples were collected in 17 counties from hunter-harvested deer during 2021-2022 and 2022-2023.Samples of kidney tissue were collected to evaluate for detecting antibody as a possible alternative to blood that is not always available from dead WTD. Nasal swab samples were tested for SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA by a RT-PCR assay. Sera and kidney tissue samples were tested for SARS-CoV-2 antibody by an enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) and sera by a plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT80). Results: The results of testing sera and kidney homogenate samples provided the first evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among WTD in Mississippi. The infection rate during 2021-2022 was 67% (10/15) based on the detection of neutralizing antibody by the PRNT80 and 26%(16/62) based on the testing of kidney tissue homogenates by an ELISA, and viral RNA was detected in 25% (3/12) of nasal swab samples. In 2022 to 2023, neutralizing antibody was detected in 62% (28/45) of WTD serum samples. In contrast, antibodies were not detected in 220 kidney homogenates by an ELISA nor was viral RNA detected in 220 nasal swab samples. Evidence of WTD activity was common in urban areas during the survey. Conclusion: Overall, the findings documented the first SARS-CoV-2 infection among WTD in Mississippi and showed that WTD commonly inhabited urban areas as a possible source of acquiring infection from humans infected with this virus.

Supporting text Virus Host Location
infection 13 Mississippi 1 neutralizing antibody 5 SARS-CoV-2 556 white-tailed deer 11 zooanthroponosis 6 Antibodies, Viral 216 COVID-19 427 Deer 47 SARS-CoV-2 456 Animals 1981 Mississippi 1 RNA, Viral 194

Evidence records

2 total
Zoonotic Surveillance
2 records · 2 evidence types
Evidence type Viral Detection
1 records
OVE8025 Viral Detection
Key finding

SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA was detected in nasal swab samples from white-tailed deer in Mississippi during 2021–2022.

Virus
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Host
white-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus Natural host
Location
United States
Supporting text

Nasal swab samples were tested for SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA by a RT-PCR assay. Viral RNA was detected in 25% (3/12) of nasal swab samples.

Method
RT-PCR assay
Sample type
nasal swab samples
Geographic raw
Mississippi
Country inferred
USA
Evidence type Serological Evidence
1 records
OVE8024 Serological Evidence
Key finding

Neutralizing antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 were detected in white-tailed deer sera from Mississippi during the 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 seasons, indicating widespread seropositivity in this population.

Virus
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Host
white-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus Natural host
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

The results of testing sera and kidney homogenate samples provided the first evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among WTD in Mississippi. The infection rate during 2021-2022 was 67% (10/15) based on the detection of neutralizing antibody by the PRNT80 and 26%(16/62) based on the testing of kidney tissue homogenates by an ELISA, and viral RNA was detected in 25% (3/12) of nasal swab samples. In 2022 to 2023, neutralizing antibody was detected in 62% (28/45) of WTD serum samples.

Method
plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT80)
Sample type
serum samples