amp1212 t1_j0mts48 wrote
There are other recent publications reporting the same thing- this one is from Texas
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>Free-ranging white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) across the United States are increasingly recognized for infection and transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Through a cross-sectional study of 80 deer at three captive cervid facilities in central and southern Texas, we provide evidence of 34 of 36 (94.4%) white-tailed deer at a single captive cervid facility seropositive for SARS-CoV-2 by neutralization assay (PRNT90), with endpoint titers as high as 1,280. In contrast, all tested white-tailed deer and axis deer (Axis axis) at two other captive cervid facilities were seronegative, and SARS-CoV-2 RNA was not detected in respiratory swabs from deer at any of the three facilities. These data support transmission among captive deer that cannot be explained by human contact for each infected animal, as only a subset of the seropositive does had direct human contact. The facility seroprevalence was more than double of that reported from wild deer, suggesting that the confined environment may facilitate transmission.
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>Roundy, Christopher M., et al. "High seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) at one of three captive cervid facilities in Texas." Microbiology Spectrum 10.2 (2022): e00576-22.
Cervids generally are a bit worrisome as potential hosts for reservoir populations and spillover. One of the more notable diseases common to cervids and humans are elk and BSE,
Otero, Alicia, et al. "Chronic wasting disease: a cervid prion infection looming to spillover." Veterinary Research 52.1 (2021): 1-13.
I doubt that there's anything particular about cervid biology -- more likely its the large numbers of animals and their mobility. Interesting about the different seroprevalence in the Texas populations. . . a big difference in the New York vs Texas populations is that the NY were free ranging and the Texas were not . . .
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