Wild red deer (Cervus elaphus) do not play a role as vectors or reservoirs of SARS-CoV-2 in north-eastern Poland.

Krupinska, M.; Borkowski, J.; Goll, A.; Nowicka, J.; Baranowicz, K.; Bourret, V.; Strandin, T.; Maki, S.; Kant, R.; Sironen, T.; Grzybek, M.

doi:10.1101/2022.09.27.509682

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2022.09.27.509682

Wild red deer (Cervus elaphus) do not play a role as vectors or reservoirs of SARS-CoV-2 in north-eastern Poland.

Krupinska, M.·Borkowski, J.·Goll, A.·Nowicka, J.·Baranowicz, K.·Bourret, V.·Strandin, T.·Maki, S.·Kant, R.·Sironen, T.·Grzybek, M.

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Abstract

Several studies reported a high prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among white-tailed deer in North America. Monitoring cervids in all regions to better understand SARS-CoV-2 infection and circulation in other deer populations has been urged. To evaluate deer exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in Poland, we sampled 90 reed deer individuals shot by hunters in five hunting districts in northeastern Poland. Serum and nasopharyngeal swabs were collected, and then the Immunofluorescent Assay (IFA) to detect anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was performed as well as real-time PCR with reverse transcription for direct virus detection. No positive samples were detected. There is no evidence of spillover of SARS-CoV-2 from the human to deer population in Poland.

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Krupinska, M., Borkowski, J., Goll, A., Nowicka, J., Baranowicz, K., Bourret, V., Strandin, T., Maki, S., Kant, R., Sironen, T., Grzybek, M.. 2022-09-27. Wild red deer (Cervus elaphus) do not play a role as vectors or reservoirs of SARS-CoV-2 in north-eastern Poland.. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.09.27.509682

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