Abstract
A wide range of animal species are susceptible to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Natural and/or experimental infections have been reported in pet, zoo, farmed and wild animals. Interestingly, some SARS-CoV-2 variants, such as B.1.1.7/Alpha, B.1.351/Beta, and B.1.1.529/Omicron, were demonstrated to infect some animal species not susceptible to classical viral variants. The present study aimed to elucidate if goats ( Capra aegagrus hircus ) are susceptible to the B.1.351/Beta variant. First, an in silico approach was used to predict the affinity between the receptor-binding domain of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.351/Beta variant and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 from goats. Moreover, we performed an experimental inoculation with this variant in domestic goat and showed evidence of infection. SARS-CoV-2 was detected in nasal swabs and tissues by RT-qPCR and/or immunohistochemistry, and seroneutralisation was confirmed via ELISA and live virus neutralisation assays. However, the viral amount and tissue distribution suggest a low susceptibility of goats to the B.1.351/Beta variant. Therefore, although monitoring livestock is advisable, it is unlikely that goats play a role as SARS-CoV-2 reservoir species, and they are not useful surrogates to study SARS-CoV-2 infection in farmed animals.
Keywords: Beta variant; experimental infection; goat; ruminant; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2); susceptibility.
【저자키워드】 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), Beta variant, goat, ruminant, Susceptibility., Experimental infection, 【초록키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, immunohistochemistry, coronavirus, SARS-COV-2 infection, susceptibility, variant, Infection, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, ELISA, RT-qPCR, SARS-CoV-2 variants, Viral variants, Beta, nasal swab, distribution, predict, Live virus, Evidence, wild animals, natural, acute respiratory syndrome, in silico Approach, tissue, infect, neutralisation assays, susceptible, classical, performed, was used, reported, unlikely, the spike protein, demonstrated, the receptor-binding domain, 【제목키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, coronavirus 2, respiratory,