Serological Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Free-Ranging New England White Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

Presenter

Mara Lachance Beck

Campus

UMass Amherst

Sponsor

Barbara Osborne, Department of Animal Sciences, UMass Amherst

Schedule

Session 4, 2:30 PM - 3:15 PM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board C11, Poster Showcase Room (163), Row 2 (C11-C20) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

Global spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) reinforced the importance of understanding the mechanisms behind zoonotic disease spread. Today’s novel coronavirus, SARS-Cov-2, is hypothesized to have originated in horseshoe bats–a natural host of coronaviruses–with subsequent animal intermediates propagating transmission to humans. One such susceptible intermediate hosts and focus of this research are white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Increasingly suburban habitats, herd dynamics, asymptomatic infection, and unclear spillover mechanism necessitate a deeper understanding of cervid infection reservoirs. The current body of research regarding Covid-19 in white-tailed deer reports seropositivity for non-human circulating variants–Alpha, Gamma, and Delta–as well as variant of concern Omicron. Surveillance of local pathogen prevalence is warranted to inform the impact of humans on wildlife and future directions in public health. To detect and quantify the scope of SARS-CoV-2 infection history in wild white-tailed deer, blood samples were collected from Massachusetts hunter-harvested specimens. Data collection occurred during November - December 2023 in Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester, and Hampden counties at Fish and Wildlife check stations. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), presence of IgG antibodies will evidence previous exposure. Widespread exploration of white-tailed deer SARS-CoV-2 concentration is imperative in light of their potential as mixing vessels for accumulation of vaccine evading mutations and documented spillover to humans.

Keywords

SARS-CoV-2, Ecological Epidemiology , Spillover , Wildlife Immunology, One Health

Research Area

Disease Detection, Prevention & Treatment

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