| Title: |
Viral outbreak dynamics and evolution in wildlife at the interface with humans |
| Authors: |
Giglio, Rachael Marie; Westmoreland, Aaron; Wilber, Mark; Wilson-Henjum, Grete; Chan, Aung Nyein; Gardner, Billy; Horpiencharoen, Wantida; Gagne, Roderick B.; Corondi, Avery; Baker, Alec; Combs, Matthew; Chandler, Jeffrey; Manlove, Kezia; Pepin, Kim M.; Walter, W. David |
| Contributors: |
U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service |
| Source: |
Biology Letters ; volume 21, issue 12 ; ISSN 1744-957X |
| Publisher Information: |
The Royal Society |
| Publication Year: |
2025 |
| Description: |
In this study, we used a multi-faceted approach to understand patterns of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission and persistence in a wild white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) population. Serology data indicated transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and persistence during the seven-month sampling period. Traditional disease modelling based on deer-to-deer transmission indicated relatively low prevalence with an R0 of 1.9 and recovery period of 7 days; however, individual-based modelling informed by GPS tracked-movement data captured a potential transmission event. Phylogenetic analyses revealed a recurring pattern of divergent groups of deer-derived sequences with human-derived sequences falling close to each deer-derived cluster. Further, human-derived sequences were frequently sampled months prior to the deer-derived sequences, indicating repeated human to deer spillover. Using multiple types of data as well as both fine and broad scale analyses, we have characterized a pattern of localized outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 within white-tailed deer populations that are likely recurring due to frequent spillover events. Our results suggest that while deer-to-deer transmission occurs over small spatiotemporal scales, SARS-CoV-2 persistence over longer periods and across larger regions is likely driven by repeated spillover from human populations. |
| Document Type: |
article in journal/newspaper |
| Language: |
English |
| DOI: |
10.1098/rsbl.2025.0540 |
| DOI: |
10.1098/rsbl.2025.0540/4416012/rsbl.2025.0540.pdf |
| Availability: |
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2025.0540; https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rsbl/article-pdf/doi/10.1098/rsbl.2025.0540/4416012/rsbl.2025.0540.pdf |
| Rights: |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ; http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.3296E197 |
| Database: |
BASE |