Shillong, August 28: A study published in Nature Communications has revealed that Covid-19 viral variants can undergo approximately three times faster evolution in deer compared to humans.
The study documented over 30 Covid-19 infections in white-tailed deer in the US that were introduced by humans.
As per IANS, the research focused on white-tailed deer in Ohio, where scientists collected 1,522 nasal swabs from free-ranging deer in 83 out of 88 counties between November 2021 and March 2022. Results showed that over 10% of the samples tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, with at least one positive case found in 59% of the tested counties.
While the virus transmission route from humans to deer remains unknown, the findings suggest that white-tailed deer might serve as a reservoir for the virus, allowing it to continue mutating. The virus’ circulation in deer could potentially lead to transmission to other wildlife and livestock.
The study revealed that genetic composition of delta variants in deer matched those dominant in humans at the time, indicating spillover events. It also suggested that Covid-19 vaccination could offer protection against severe disease in case of a spillover from deer to humans.
The rapid evolution of Covid-19 variants in deer raises concerns about ongoing changes and potential impacts on transmission dynamics.