RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 SARS-CoV-2 surveillance in Norway rats (<em>Rattus norvegicus</em>) from Antwerp sewer system, Belgium
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2021.03.06.433708
DO 10.1101/2021.03.06.433708
A1 Valeria Carolina Colombo
A1 Vincent Sluydts
A1 Joachim Mariën
A1 Bram Vanden Broecke
A1 Natalie Van Houtte
A1 Wannes Leirs
A1 Lotte Jacobs
A1 Arne Iserbyt
A1 Marine Hubert
A1 Leo Heyndrickx
A1 Hanne Goris
A1 Peter Delputte
A1 Naomi De Roeck
A1 Joris Elst
A1 Robbert Boudewijns
A1 Kevin K. Ariën
A1 Herwig Leirs
A1 Sophie Gryseels
YR 2021
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/03/06/2021.03.06.433708.abstract
AB Background SARS-CoV-2 human-to-animal transmission can lead to the establishment of novel reservoirs and the evolution of new variants with the potential to start new outbreaks in humans.Aim We tested Norway rats inhabiting the sewer system of Antwerp, Belgium, for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 following a local COVID-19 epidemic peak. In addition, we discuss the use and interpretation of SARS-CoV-2 serological tests on non-human samples.Methods Between November and December 2020, Norway rat oral swabs, feces and tissues from the sewer system of Antwerp were collected to be tested by RT-qPCR for the presence of SARS-CoV-2. Serum samples were screened for the presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies using a Luminex microsphere immunoassay (MIA). Samples considered positive were then checked for neutralizing antibodies using a conventional viral neutralization test (cVNT).Results The serum of 35 rats was tested by MIA showing 3 potentially positive sera that were later shown to be negative by cVNT. All tissue samples of 39 rats analyzed tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA.Conclusion This is the first study that evaluates SARS-CoV-2 infection in urban rats. We can conclude that the sample of 39 rats had never been infected with SARS-CoV-2. We show that diagnostic serology tests can give misleading results when applied on non-human samples. SARS-CoV-2 monitoring activities should continue due to the emergence of new variants prone to infect Muridae rodents.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.