White-tailed deer susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, study finds
A team of scientists from the United States has recently demonstrated that white-tailed deer are highly susceptible to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Moreover, the infected animals are capable of transmitting the virus to their non-infected counterparts via indirect contact. The study is currently available on the
Background
Although there is uncertainty about the exact origin of SARS-CoV-2, a pathogen spillover from animals to humans is likely responsible for the emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Genomic analysis studies have revealed that SARS-CoV-2 shares high genetic similarities with coronaviruses found in bats, especially horseshoe bats. However, current evidence indicates that the virus might have transmitted from an animal source to humans via an intermediate host. Although initially it was hypothesized that pangolins are the intermediate hosts for SARS-CoV-2, phylogenetic and molecular genetic sequencing analyses have failed to support the hypothesis. Thus, to accurately understand the viral origin as well as the mechanism of cross-species transmission, it is important to identify the animal species that are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and can serve as a potential zoonotic reservoir for the virus.