Investigating the Presence of SARS CoV-2 in Free-Living and Captive Animals
Due to SARS CoV-2 recombination rates, number of infected people and recent reports of environmental contamination, the possibility of SARS CoV-2 transmission to animals can be expected. We tested samples of dominant free-living and captive wildlife species in Croatia for the presence of anti-SARS C...
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| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-05-01
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| Series: | Pathogens |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/10/6/635 |
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| author | Lorena Jemeršić Ivana Lojkić Nina Krešić Tomislav Keros Tajana Amšel Zelenika Luka Jurinović Damir Skok Ingeborg Bata Jadranko Boras Boris Habrun Dragan Brnić |
| author_facet | Lorena Jemeršić Ivana Lojkić Nina Krešić Tomislav Keros Tajana Amšel Zelenika Luka Jurinović Damir Skok Ingeborg Bata Jadranko Boras Boris Habrun Dragan Brnić |
| author_sort | Lorena Jemeršić |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Due to SARS CoV-2 recombination rates, number of infected people and recent reports of environmental contamination, the possibility of SARS CoV-2 transmission to animals can be expected. We tested samples of dominant free-living and captive wildlife species in Croatia for the presence of anti-SARS CoV-2 antibodies and viral RNA. In total, from June 2020 until February 2021, we tested blood, muscle extract and fecal samples of 422 free-living wild boars (<i>Sus scrofa</i>), red foxes (<i>Vulpes vulpes</i>) and jackals (<i>Canis aureus</i>); blood and cloacal swabs of 111 yellow-legged gulls (<i>Larus michahellis</i>) and fecal samples of 32 zoo animals. A commercially available ELISA (ID.Vet, France) and as a confirmatory test, a surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT; GenScript, Netherlands) were used. Fecal samples were tested for the presence of viral RNA by a real-time RT–PCR protocol. Fifteen out of 533 (2.8%) positive ELISA results were detected; in wild boars (3.9%), red foxes (2.9%) and jackals (4.6%). However, the positive findings were not confirmed by sVNT. No viral RNA was found. In conclusion, no spillover occurred within the investigated period (second COVID-19 wave). However, further investigation is needed, especially regarding wildlife sample features for serological tests. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:10:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7f44408a56ef4740800e3e8b835edec3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:10:24Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj.art-7f44408a56ef4740800e3e8b835edec32023-11-21T20:52:11ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172021-05-0110663510.3390/pathogens10060635Investigating the Presence of SARS CoV-2 in Free-Living and Captive AnimalsLorena Jemeršić0Ivana Lojkić1Nina Krešić2Tomislav Keros3Tajana Amšel Zelenika4Luka Jurinović5Damir Skok6Ingeborg Bata7Jadranko Boras8Boris Habrun9Dragan Brnić10Virology Department, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska Cesta 143, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaVirology Department, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska Cesta 143, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaVirology Department, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska Cesta 143, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaVirology Department, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska Cesta 143, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaPoultry Center, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaPoultry Center, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaZagreb Zoo, Maksimirski Perivoj, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaZagreb Zoo, Maksimirski Perivoj, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaZagreb Zoo, Maksimirski Perivoj, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaVirology Department, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska Cesta 143, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaVirology Department, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska Cesta 143, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaDue to SARS CoV-2 recombination rates, number of infected people and recent reports of environmental contamination, the possibility of SARS CoV-2 transmission to animals can be expected. We tested samples of dominant free-living and captive wildlife species in Croatia for the presence of anti-SARS CoV-2 antibodies and viral RNA. In total, from June 2020 until February 2021, we tested blood, muscle extract and fecal samples of 422 free-living wild boars (<i>Sus scrofa</i>), red foxes (<i>Vulpes vulpes</i>) and jackals (<i>Canis aureus</i>); blood and cloacal swabs of 111 yellow-legged gulls (<i>Larus michahellis</i>) and fecal samples of 32 zoo animals. A commercially available ELISA (ID.Vet, France) and as a confirmatory test, a surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT; GenScript, Netherlands) were used. Fecal samples were tested for the presence of viral RNA by a real-time RT–PCR protocol. Fifteen out of 533 (2.8%) positive ELISA results were detected; in wild boars (3.9%), red foxes (2.9%) and jackals (4.6%). However, the positive findings were not confirmed by sVNT. No viral RNA was found. In conclusion, no spillover occurred within the investigated period (second COVID-19 wave). However, further investigation is needed, especially regarding wildlife sample features for serological tests.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/10/6/635SARS CoV-2serologyRNA detectionfree-living wild animalszoo animals |
| spellingShingle | Lorena Jemeršić Ivana Lojkić Nina Krešić Tomislav Keros Tajana Amšel Zelenika Luka Jurinović Damir Skok Ingeborg Bata Jadranko Boras Boris Habrun Dragan Brnić Investigating the Presence of SARS CoV-2 in Free-Living and Captive Animals Pathogens SARS CoV-2 serology RNA detection free-living wild animals zoo animals |
| title | Investigating the Presence of SARS CoV-2 in Free-Living and Captive Animals |
| title_full | Investigating the Presence of SARS CoV-2 in Free-Living and Captive Animals |
| title_fullStr | Investigating the Presence of SARS CoV-2 in Free-Living and Captive Animals |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigating the Presence of SARS CoV-2 in Free-Living and Captive Animals |
| title_short | Investigating the Presence of SARS CoV-2 in Free-Living and Captive Animals |
| title_sort | investigating the presence of sars cov 2 in free living and captive animals |
| topic | SARS CoV-2 serology RNA detection free-living wild animals zoo animals |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/10/6/635 |
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