Multiple spillovers from humans and onward transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in white-tailed deer
Suresh V. Kuchipudi, Meera Surendran Nair, Rachel M. Ruden, Michele Yon, Ruth H. Nissly, Kurt J. Vandegrift, Rahul K. Nelli, Lingling Li, Bhushan M. Jayarao, Costas D. Maranas, Nicole Levine, Katriina Willgert, Andrew J. K. Conlan, Randall J. Olsen, James J. Davis, James M. Musser, Peter J. Hudson, Vivek Kapur
Abstract
Significance The results provide strong evidence of extensive SARS-CoV-2 infection of white-tailed deer, a free-living wild animal species with widespread distribution across North, Central, and South America. The analysis shows infection of deer resulted from multiple spillovers from humans, followed by efficient deer-to-deer transmission. The discovery of widespread infection of white-tailed deer indicates their establishment as potential reservoir hosts for SARS-CoV-2, a finding with important implications for the ecology, long-term persistence, and evolution of the virus, including the potential for spillback to humans.