Aaron Westmoreland
Mark Q. Wilber
Grete WIlson-Henjum
Aung Nyein Chan
Billy Gardner
Wantida Horpiencharoen
Roderick B. Gagne
Avery M. Corondi
Alec Baker
Matthew A. Combs
Jefferey Chandler
Kezia R. Manlove
Kim M. Pepin
W. David Walter
Rachael Marie Giglio
2025
<p><span id="_mce_caret" data-mce-bogus="1" data-mce-type="format-caret"><span>In this study, we used a multi-faceted approach to understand patterns of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission and persistence in a wild white-tailed deer (</span><i>Odocoileus virginianus</i><span>) population. Serology data indicated transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and persistence during the seven-month sampling period. Traditional disease modelling based on deer-to-deer transmission indicated relatively low prevalence with an </span><i>R</i><sub>0</sub><span> of 1.9 and recovery period of 7 days; however, individual-based modelling informed by GPS tracked-movement data captured a potential transmission event. Phylogenetic analyses revealed a recurring pattern of divergent groups of deer-derived sequences with human-derived sequences falling close to each deer-derived cluster. Further, human-derived sequences were frequently sampled months prior to the deer-derived sequences, indicating repeated human to deer spillover. Using multiple types of data as well as both fine and broad scale analyses, we have characterized a pattern of localized outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 within white-tailed deer populations that are likely recurring due to frequent spillover events. Our results suggest that while deer-to-deer transmission occurs over small spatiotemporal scales, SARS-CoV-2 persistence over longer periods and across larger regions is likely driven by repeated spillover from human populations.</span></span></p>
application/pdf
10.1098/rsbl.2025.0540
en
The Royal Society Publishing
Viral outbreak dynamics and evolution in wildlife at the interface with humans
article