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Literature detail

Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 in Norway Rats (<i>Rattus norvegicus</i>) from Southern Ontario.

Sarah J Robinson1 Jonathon D Kotwa2 Simon P Jeeves1 Chelsea G Himsworth3 David L Pearl4 J Scott Weese1 L Robbin Lindsay5 Antonia Dibernardo5 Nikki P L Toledo5 Bradley S Pickering6,7,8 Melissa Goolia6 Hsien-Yao Chee2,9 Juliette Blais-Savoie2 Emily Chien2 Winfield Yim2 Lily Yip2 Samira Mubareka2,10 Claire M Jardine1,11
Affiliations 11 institutions
  1. Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
  2. Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
  3. School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
  4. Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
  5. Public Health Agency of Canada, National Microbiology Laboratory, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
  6. National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
  7. Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
  8. Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA.
  9. Global Health Research Center and Division of Natural and Applied Sciences, Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan, Jiangsu, China.
  10. Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
  11. Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
PMID 40303769 2023 Transbound Emerg Dis eng epublish
PubMed DOI Browse context

Article

Publication summary

The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from wildlife has raised concerns about spillover from humans to animals, the establishment of novel wildlife reservoirs, and the potential for future outbreaks caused by variants of wildlife origin. Norway rats (<i>Rattus norvegicus</i>) are abundant in urban areas and live in close proximity to humans, providing the opportunity for spillover of SARS-CoV-2. Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection and exposure has been reported in Norway rats. We investigated SARS-CoV-2 infection and exposure in Norway rats from Southern Ontario, Canada. From October 2019 to June 2021, 224 rats were submitted by collaborating pest control companies. The majority of samples were collected in Windsor (79.9%; <i>n</i> = 179), Hamilton (13.8%; <i>n</i> = 31), and the Greater Toronto Area (5.8%; <i>n</i> = 13). Overall, 50.0% (<i>n</i> = 112) were female and most rats were sexually mature (55.8%; <i>n</i> = 125). Notably, 202 samples were collected prior to the emergence of variants of concern (VOC) and 22 were collected while the Alpha variant (B.1.1.7) was the predominant circulating VOC in humans. Nasal turbinate (<i>n</i> = 164) and small intestinal (<i>n</i> = 213) tissue samples were analyzed for SARS-CoV-2 RNA by RT-PCR. Thoracic cavity fluid samples (<i>n</i> = 213) were tested for neutralizing antibodies using a surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT) (GenScript cPass); confirmatory plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) was conducted on presumptive positive samples. We did not detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in any samples tested. Two out of eleven samples positive on sVNT had neutralizing antibodies confirmed positive by PRNT (1 : 40 and 1 : 320 PRNT70); both were collected prior to the emergence of VOC. It is imperative that efforts to control and monitor SARS-CoV-2 include surveillance of rats and other relevant wildlife species as novel variants continue to emerge.

COVID-19 Rodent Diseases SARS-CoV-2 Animals Animals, Wild Disease Reservoirs Female Male Ontario Rats

Structured evidence records

Evidence records

2 total
Serological Evidence 1 records
Serological Evidence Extraction confidence 0.95
Key finding

Two Norway rat samples had SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies confirmed by PRNT, providing serological evidence of viral exposure before the emergence of variants of concern.

Virus
SARS-CoV-2
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

Thoracic cavity fluid samples (n = 213) were tested for neutralizing antibodies using a surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT); confirmatory plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) was conducted on presumptive positive samples. Two out of eleven samples positive on sVNT had neutralizing antibodies confirmed positive by PRNT (1:40 and 1:320 PRNT70).

Method
surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT); plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT)
Sample type
thoracic cavity fluid
Zoonotic Surveillance 1 records
Zoonotic Surveillance Extraction confidence 1.00
Key finding

Zoonotic surveillance of Norway rats in Southern Ontario detected no SARS-CoV-2 RNA but found neutralizing antibodies in two individuals, indicating possible prior exposure.

Virus
SARS-CoV-2
Location
Canada Southern Ontario, Canada
Supporting text

We investigated SARS-CoV-2 infection and exposure in Norway rats from Southern Ontario, Canada. Nasal turbinate and small intestinal tissue samples were analyzed for SARS-CoV-2 RNA by RT-PCR. Thoracic cavity fluid samples were tested for neutralizing antibodies using a surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT) and confirmatory PRNT.

Method
RT-PCR; surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT); plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT)
Sample type
nasal turbinate tissue; small intestinal tissue; thoracic cavity fluid
Geographic raw
Southern Ontario
Country inferred
Canada