SARS-CoV-2 occurrence in cervids in the United States and US territories
SARS-CoV-2 was found in multiple cervid species throughout the United States from October 2021 through October 2023 and results reinforce findings of considerable viral spillover from people to cervids. Data demonstrate changes in viral and neutralizing antibody prevalence over time and as well as viral variants that differed from what was circulating in human populations. Continued monitoring can help pinpoint what is driving changes in prevalence and how those changes alter risk to both wildlife and human populations.
Authors
- Timothy Linder
- Aaron T. Phillips (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-0493-5759)
- Julianna B. Lenoch (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3995-8895)
- Scott F. Beckerman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7750-5136)
- Derek T. Collins (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3723-2353)
- Sean P. Streich
- Sarah N. Bevins (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4999-6836)
- Kristina Lantz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1720-1832)
- Kelsey Weir (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2450-3273)
- Richard B. Chipman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4145-678X)
- Bledar Bisha (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3145-8025)
- Mitch Oswald
- Jason M. Klemm (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4673-016X)
- Joshua P. Eckery (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8666-8420)
- Robert Pleszewski (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1481-0242)
- Allen Gosser
- Jourdan M. Ringenberg (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9492-3874)
- Thomas J. DeLiberto (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1115-1472)
- Jeffrey C. Chandler (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3318-135X)
- Susan A. Shriner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0349-7182)
- Mia Kim Torchetti
- David L. Bergman
- Kali Ward
- Hannah Cluett
- Christopher A. Quintanal
- Jeremy W. Ellis
- Jonathon D. Heale
Institutions
- University of Wyoming (US)
- Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (US)
- Life Services (United States) (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Scientific Reports
- Published
- 2026-01-15
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-35967-8
- Primary Topic
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service