Futurity July 30, 2024
SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, is widespread among wildlife species, according to new research.
Researchers detected the virus in six common backyard species in Virginia and antibodies indicating prior exposure to the virus were found in five species with rates of exposure ranging from 40 to 60% depending on the species.
Genetic tracking in wild animals confirmed both the presence of SARS-CoV-2 and the existence of unique viral mutations with lineages closely matching variants circulating in humans at the time, further supporting human-to-animal transmission, the study finds.
The highest exposure to SARS CoV-2 was found in animals near hiking trails and high-traffic public areas, suggesting the virus passed from humans to wildlife, according to scientists at the Fralin Biomedical...
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