Abstract
Following findings in Northern America of SARS-CoV-2 infections in white-tailed deer, there is concern of similar infections in European deer and their potential as reservoirs of SARS-CoV-2 including opportunities for the emergence of new variants. UK deer sera were collected in 2020-2021 from 6 species and a hybrid with 1748 tested using anti-spike and anti-nucleocapsid serology assays. No samples were positive on both assays nor by surrogate neutralization testing. There is no evidence that spill-over infections of SARS-CoV-2 occurred from the human population to UK deer or that SARS-CoV-2 has been circulating in UK deer (over the study period). Although it cannot be ruled out, study results indicate that spill-over infections followed by circulation of SARS-CoV-2 to the most common European deer species is small.
Keywords: COVID-19 serological testing; SARS-CoV-2; United Kingdom; deer; sentinel surveillance; viral zoonoses.
【저자키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 serological testing, sentinel surveillance, deer, United Kingdom, viral zoonoses, 【초록키워드】 COVID-19, zoonoses, neutralization, SARS-COV-2 infection, Infection, variants, sera, circulation, serological, Anti-spike, Evidence, study period, circulating, America, positive, serology assays, reservoir, European, tested, collected, occurred, 【제목키워드】 Population, Screening,