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High seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) at one of three captive cervid facilities in Texas

Christopher M. Roundy, Chase M. Nunez, Logan F. Thomas, Lisa D. Auckland, Wendy Tang, Jack J. Richison III, Breanna R. Green, Clayton D. Hilton, Michael J. Cherry, Alex Pauvolid-Correa, Gabriel L. Hamer, Walter E. Cook, View ORCID ProfileSarah A. Hamer
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.01.05.475172
Christopher M. Roundy
1Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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Chase M. Nunez
2Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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Logan F. Thomas
2Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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Lisa D. Auckland
3Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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Wendy Tang
1Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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Jack J. Richison III
2Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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Breanna R. Green
4Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsvillle, TX, USA
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Clayton D. Hilton
4Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsvillle, TX, USA
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Michael J. Cherry
4Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsvillle, TX, USA
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Alex Pauvolid-Correa
3Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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Gabriel L. Hamer
1Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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Walter E. Cook
2Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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  • For correspondence: shamer@cvm.tamu.edu
Sarah A. Hamer
2Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
3Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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  • ORCID record for Sarah A. Hamer
  • For correspondence: shamer@cvm.tamu.edu
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Abstract

Free-ranging white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginanus) across the United States are increasingly recognized as involved in SARS-CoV-2 transmission cycles. Through a cross-sectional study of 80 deer at three captive cervid facilities in central and southern Texas, we provide evidence of 34 of 36 (94.4%) white-tailed deer at a single captive cervid facility seropositive for SARS-CoV-2 by neutralization assay (PRNT90), with endpoint titers as high as 1280. In contrast, all tested white-tailed deer and axis deer (Axis axis) at two other captive cervid facilities were seronegative, and SARS-CoV-2 RNA was not detected in respiratory swabs from deer at any of the three facilities. These data support transmission among captive deer that cannot be explained by human contact for each infected animal, as only a subset of the seropositive does had direct human contact. The facility seroprevalence was more than double of that reported from wild deer, suggesting that the confined environment may facilitate transmission. Further exploration of captive cervids and other managed animals for their role in the epizootiology of SARS-CoV-2 is critical for understanding impacts on animal health and the potential for spillback transmission to humans or other animal taxa.

Importance As SARS-CoV-2 vaccine coverge of the human population increases and variants of concern continue to emerge, identification of the epidemiologic importance of animal virus reservoirs is critical. We found that nearly all (94.4%) of the captive white-tailed deer at a cervid facility in central Texas had neutralizing antibodies for SARS-CoV-2. This seroprevalence is over double than that which has been reported from free-ranging deer from other regions of the US. Horizontal transmission among deer may be facilitated in confinement. Tracking new infections among wild and confined deer is critical for understanding the importance of animal reservoirs for both veterinary and human health.

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The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under a CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.
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Posted January 09, 2022.
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High seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) at one of three captive cervid facilities in Texas
Christopher M. Roundy, Chase M. Nunez, Logan F. Thomas, Lisa D. Auckland, Wendy Tang, Jack J. Richison III, Breanna R. Green, Clayton D. Hilton, Michael J. Cherry, Alex Pauvolid-Correa, Gabriel L. Hamer, Walter E. Cook, Sarah A. Hamer
bioRxiv 2022.01.05.475172; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.01.05.475172
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High seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) at one of three captive cervid facilities in Texas
Christopher M. Roundy, Chase M. Nunez, Logan F. Thomas, Lisa D. Auckland, Wendy Tang, Jack J. Richison III, Breanna R. Green, Clayton D. Hilton, Michael J. Cherry, Alex Pauvolid-Correa, Gabriel L. Hamer, Walter E. Cook, Sarah A. Hamer
bioRxiv 2022.01.05.475172; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.01.05.475172

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