Biology subjects

Root, J. J.

Publications and source records attributed to Root, J. J..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2023

Prevalence of Avian Influenza Virus in Synanthropic Birds Associated with an Outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Strain EA/AM H5N1

The 2022 - 2023 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus outbreak of H5N1 Eurasian lineage goose/Guangdong clade 2.3.4.4b is the largest in North American history and has significantly impacted wild bird populations and domestic poultry across the United States. Synanthropic birds may play an important role in transmitting the virus laterally to other wild bird species and domestic poultry. Understanding the prevalence of HPAI H5N1 in different avian orders may help inform management decisions and potential risk factors for both wild and domestic bird populations. Following the confirmation of infection of HPAI H5N1 in domestic poultry at two commercial premises in IN, USA, we sampled and tested 266 synanthropic avian species within the Columbiformes and Passeriformes orders and found no detection of the virus at either location. Additionally, laboratories within the National Animal Health Laboratory Network were queried for influenza Type A rRT-PCR assay test results from morbidity and mortality events in wild birds, consisting of 10,786 birds tested across eight orders and 1,666 avian influenza virus detections. Query results were assessed by taxonomic groups for viral prevalence and suggested that the virus most often was observed in predatory and scavenging birds. Although detections were found in non-predatory synanthropic birds including the orders Columbiformes, Galliformes, and Passeriformes, the risk of transmission from and between these groups appears comparatively low, with apparent prevalence rates of 0.0090, 0.0688, and 0.0147, respectively. The highest prevalence was observed in raptors (0.2514), with prevalence rates in exclusively scavenging Cathartidae reaching up to 0.5333. There is strong evidence that consumption of infected tissues is a key pathway for transmission of avian influenza viruses. Understanding the impact of the 2022 - 2023 HPAI outbreak in wild bird populations can provide pertinent information on viral transmission, disease ecology, and risk to humans and agriculture.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2022

Susceptibility of wild canids to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has proven to be a promiscuous virus, capable of infecting a variety of different animal species, but much work remains in determining the susceptibility of common wildlife species to the virus. Here, we demonstrate that following experimental inoculation with SARS-CoV-2, red fox (Vulpes vulpes) become infected and can shed virus in oral and respiratory secretions. Conversely, experimentally challenged coyotes (Canis latrans) did not become infected or shed virus. Our results add red fox to the animal species known to be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 and suggest that they may contribute to continued maintenance and transmission of the virus. Article Summary LineExperimental infection of red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and coyotes (Canis latrans) with SARS-CoV-2 revealed that red fox are susceptible to infection and can shed virus, while coyotes do not become infected.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2021

SARS-CoV-2 exposure in wild white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

Widespread human SARS-CoV-2 infections combined with human-wildlife interactions create the potential for reverse zoonosis from humans to wildlife. We targeted white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) for serosurveillance based on evidence these deer have ACE2 receptors with high affinity for SARS-CoV-2, are permissive to infection, exhibit sustained viral shedding, can transmit to conspecifics, and can be abundant near urban centers. We evaluated 624 pre- and post-pandemic serum samples from wild deer from four U.S. states for SARS-CoV-2 exposure. Antibodies were detected in 152 samples (40%) from 2021 using a surrogate virus neutralization test. A subset of samples was tested using a SARS-CoV-2 virus neutralization test with high concordance between tests. These data suggest white-tailed deer in the populations assessed have been exposed to SARS-CoV-2. One-Sentence SummaryAntibodies to SARS-CoV-2 were detected in 40% of wild white-tailed deer sampled from four U.S. states in 2021.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2021

Survey of peridomestic mammal susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection

Wild animals have been implicated as the origin of 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. Here 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 work expands upon the existing knowledge base of susceptible species and provides evidence that human-wildlife interactions could result in continued transmission of SARS-CoV-2.

microbiology↗