Abstract
Wild animals have been implicated as the origin of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), but it is largely unknown how the virus affects most wildlife species and if wildlife could ultimately serve as a reservoir for maintaining the virus outside the human population. We show that several common peridomestic species, including deer mice, bushy-tailed woodrats, and striped skunks, are susceptible to infection and can shed the virus in respiratory secretions. In contrast, we demonstrate that cottontail rabbits, fox squirrels, Wyoming ground squirrels, black-tailed prairie dogs, house mice, and racoons are not susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our results expand the knowledge base of susceptible species and provide evidence that human–wildlife interactions could result in continued transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
Highlights
Wild animals have been implicated as the origin of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), but it is largely unknown how the virus affects most wildlife species and if wildlife could serve as a reservoir for maintaining the virus outside the human population
Looking at protein sequence analysis of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) binding with the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, one study indicated that raccoons could be ruled out as potential hosts for SARS-CoV-2 [6], and a different study based upon sequence analysis suggested that the western spotted skunks (Spilogale gracilis) had a low prediction of SARS-CoV-2 S binding propensity [7]
COVID-19 has had a major impact on the human population globally, but so far little is known about how SARS-CoV-2 virus affects wildlife
Summary
Wild animals have been implicated as the origin of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), but it is largely unknown how the virus affects most wildlife species and if wildlife could serve as a reservoir for maintaining the virus outside the human population. We show that several common peridomestic species, including deer mice, bushy-tailed woodrats, and striped skunks, are susceptible to infection and can shed the virus in respiratory secretions. Peridomestic animals, which are represented by wild and feral animals living near humans, represent key species to evaluate for SARS-CoV-2 epidemiology for multiple reasons. Given their common associations with humans and anthropogenically modified habitats, they represent the wildlife species with the greatest chance. Only a handful of rodent species have been evaluated as potential reservoir hosts or animal models for SARS-CoV-2, and the results largely indicate that outbred species, including laboratory animals, are at most only moderately affected. Considering that there are >1,700 species of rodents worldwide, many of which exist closely at the human–wildlife interface, there remain many unanswered questions about SARSCoV-2 and wild rodents
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