Multiple spillovers from humans and onward transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in white-tailed deer

Significance The results provide strong evidence of extensive SARS-CoV-2 infection of white-tailed deer, a free-living wild animal species with widespread distribution across North, Central, and South America. The analysis shows infection of deer resulted from multiple spillovers from humans, followed by efficient deer-to-deer transmission. The discovery of widespread infection of white-tailed deer indicates their establishment as potential reservoir hosts for SARS-CoV-2, a finding with important implications for the ecology, long-term persistence, and evolution of the virus, including the potential for spillback to humans.

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Award: 1619072
• UD
  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

  Award: 75N93019C00076
• UD
  U.S. Department of Agriculture

  Award: 2020-67015-32175
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Award: 75N93019C00076
• UF
  U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• NI
  National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• ID
  Iowa Department of Natural Resources
• HI
  Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences
• HM
  Houston Methodist Research Institute
• NI
  National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

  Award: 75N93019C00076