A team of researchers at Virginia Tech said in the latest study that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is widespread among wildlife species. The researchers said that they examined 23 common backyard species in Virginia and found that six of them harboured the virus.&nbsp;

The study, published on Monday (Jul 29) in the journal Nature Communications, mentioned that SARS-CoV-2 was detected in six common backyard species, including deer mice, opossums, raccoons, groundhogs, cottontail rabbits and red bats.&nbsp;

The study, titled, "Widespread exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in wildlife communities", noted that antibodies indicating prior exposure to the coronavirus were found in five animal species.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/andamans-is-home-to-frogs-who-mate-upside-down-and-kick-and-punch-each-other-to-win-over-females-745171">These frogs get pretty violent to win over females, and then mate upside-down</a>

The rates of exposure ranged from 40% to 60% between species, with researchers saying that the full extent of SARS-CoV-2 exposure among wildlife communities and the factors that influence wildlife transmission risk remain unknown.&nbsp;

The study found that genetic monitoring in wild animals verified the existence of SARS-CoV-2 and distinct viral mutations with lineages closely resembling versions that were circulating in humans.&nbsp;

The findings have further validated the hypothesis that humans may transmit the virus to animals. Last year in September, a study published in Nature Communications highlighted how the virus commonly leaps from humans to white-tailed deer, and it is probably evolving even more rapidly. The virus was also reported in feral mink.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/chernobyls-miraculous-survivors-resilient-worms-thrive-amid-hazardous-radiation-744950">Chernobyl’s miraculous survivors: Resilient worms thrive amid hazardous radiation</a>&nbsp;

The scientists at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, the Department of Biological Sciences in Virginia Tech's College of Science, and the Fralin Life Sciences Institute said&nbsp;that the highest exposure to the Covid virus was found in animals near hiking trails and high-traffic public areas. The findings have suggested that the virus passed from humans to wildlife.&nbsp;

The researchers further added that there was no evidence of Covid passing from animals to humans, so people don't need to worry about getting the illness from any critters they come across while on a hike.&nbsp;

Researcher Carla Finkielstein, a professor of biological sciences with Virginia Tech's Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, said: "The virus can jump from humans to wildlife when we are in contact with them, like a hitchhiker switching rides to a new, more suitable host."&nbsp;

"The goal of the virus is to spread in order to survive. The virus aims to infect more humans, but vaccinations protect many humans. So, the virus turns to animals, adapting and mutating to thrive in the new hosts," Finkielstein added in a Virginia Tech news release.&nbsp;

The study's primary focus was Virginia, but several of the species that tested positive are widespread animals found all around North America. Researchers said there is an urgent need for surveillance throughout a larger territory because it is possible that they are also being exposed in other places.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

A team of researchers at Virginia Tech said in the latest study that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is widespread among wildlife species. The researchers said that they examined 23 common backyard species in Virginia and found that six of them harboured the virus.

A team of researchers at Virginia Tech said in the latest study that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is widespread among wildlife species. The researchers said that they examined 23 common backyard species in Virginia and found that six of them harboured the virus. The study, published on Monday (Jul 29) in the journal Nature Communications, mentioned that SARS-CoV-2 was detected in six common backyard species, including deer mice, opossums, raccoons, groundhogs, cottontail rabbits and red bats. The study, titled, "Widespread exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in wildlife communities", noted that antibodies indicating prior exposure to the coronavirus were found in five animal species. Also read: These frogs get pretty violent to win over females, and then mate upside-down The rates of exposure ranged from 40% to 60% between species, with researchers saying that the full extent of SARS-CoV-2 exposure among wildlife communities and the factors that influence wildlife transmission risk remain unknown. The study found that genetic monitoring in wild animals verified the existence of SARS-CoV-2 and distinct viral mutations with lineages closely resembling versions that were circulating in humans. The findings have further validated the hypothesis that humans may transmit the virus to animals. Last year in September, a study published in Nature Communications highlighted how the virus commonly leaps from humans to white-tailed deer, and it is probably evolving even more rapidly. The virus was also reported in feral mink. Also read: Chernobyl’s miraculous survivors: Resilient worms thrive amid hazardous radiation The scientists at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, the Department of Biological Sciences in Virginia Tech's College of Science, and the Fralin Life Sciences Institute said that the highest exposure to the Covid virus was found in animals near hiking trails and high-traffic public areas. The findings have suggested that the virus passed from humans to wildlife. The researchers further added that there was no evidence of Covid passing from animals to humans, so people don't need to worry about getting the illness from any critters they come across while on a hike. Researcher Carla Finkielstein, a professor of biological sciences with Virginia Tech's Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, said: "The virus can jump from humans to wildlife when we are in contact with them, like a hitchhiker switching rides to a new, more suitable host." "The goal of the virus is to spread in order to survive. The virus aims to infect more humans, but vaccinations protect many humans. So, the virus turns to animals, adapting and mutating to thrive in the new hosts," Finkielstein added in a Virginia Tech news release. The study's primary focus was Virginia, but several of the species that tested positive are widespread animals found all around North America. Researchers said there is an urgent need for surveillance throughout a larger territory because it is possible that they are also being exposed in other places. (With inputs from agencies)

Virus that causes Covid is widespread among wildlife species in US: Study

Lockdowns and strict lockdowns because of coronavirus (COVID-19) have been waning but the fear of coronavirus, which is behind the deadly COVID-19 pandemic is far from gone.&nbsp;

The Covid virus and its various mutations have impacted humans immensely, and a new study has highlighted that the virus also commonly leaps from us to white-tailed deer, and it is probably evolving even more rapidly.&nbsp;

The <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-40706-y">study</a> titled - Accelerated evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in free-ranging white-tailed deer - was published in Nature Communications. In some regions of the United States, the virus may currently be widespread among white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus).&nbsp;

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The study mentioned that the researchers have detected that SARS-CoV-2 was introduced from humans into white-tailed deer more than 30 times in Ohio, USA from November 2021 to March 2022.&nbsp;

Deer-to-deer transmission thereafter continued for 2–8 months and spread across a vast area, the study said, further adding that the development of SARS-CoV-2 is three times faster in white-tailed deer than it is in humans.&nbsp;

The newly established Bayesian phylogenetic approaches revealed that it is also influenced by different mutational biases and selection pressures.&nbsp;

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Given that our animal models using viruses with origins in white-tailed deer did not show any significant phenotypic alterations, the long-term impact of this increased evolutionary pace is yet unknown.&nbsp;

Although SARS-CoV-2 has just recently begun to spread among white-tailed deer populations, any future modifications could have a significant negative impact on both humans and cattle.&nbsp;

As quoted by Science Alert, study co-author Andrew Bowman, who is a veterinary epidemiologist at Ohio State University, "We generally talk about interspecies transmission as a rare event, but this wasn't a huge sampling, and we're able to document 30 spillovers. It seems to be moving between people and animals quite easily."&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;HPV: The STI that impacts 1 in 3 men worldwide&nbsp;

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Bowman said: "And the evidence is growing that humans can get it from deer – which isn't radically surprising. It's probably not a one-way pipeline."&nbsp;

"We expanded across Ohio to see if this was a localized problem – and we find it in lots of places, so it's not just a localized event," Bowman says.

"Some of the thought back then was that maybe it's just in urban deer because they're in closer contact with people," he adds. "But in rural parts of the state, we're finding plenty of positive deer."

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Lockdowns and strict lockdowns because of coronavirus (COVID-19) have been waning but the fear of coronavirus, which is behind the deadly COVID-19 pandemic is far from gone.

Lockdowns and strict lockdowns because of coronavirus (COVID-19) have been waning but the fear of coronavirus, which is behind the deadly COVID-19 pandemic is far from gone. The Covid virus and its various mutations have impacted humans immensely, and a new study has highlighted that the virus also commonly leaps from us to white-tailed deer, and it is probably evolving even more rapidly. The study titled - Accelerated evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in free-ranging white-tailed deer - was published in Nature Communications. In some regions of the United States, the virus may currently be widespread among white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Also read: Asian Hornet may have established presence in UK, threatening native bees The study mentioned that the researchers have detected that SARS-CoV-2 was introduced from humans into white-tailed deer more than 30 times in Ohio, USA from November 2021 to March 2022. Deer-to-deer transmission thereafter continued for 2–8 months and spread across a vast area, the study said, further adding that the development of SARS-CoV-2 is three times faster in white-tailed deer than it is in humans. The newly established Bayesian phylogenetic approaches revealed that it is also influenced by different mutational biases and selection pressures. Also read: Scientists discover mysterious and unique new species of marine bacteria Given that our animal models using viruses with origins in white-tailed deer did not show any significant phenotypic alterations, the long-term impact of this increased evolutionary pace is yet unknown. Although SARS-CoV-2 has just recently begun to spread among white-tailed deer populations, any future modifications could have a significant negative impact on both humans and cattle. As quoted by Science Alert, study co-author Andrew Bowman, who is a veterinary epidemiologist at Ohio State University, "We generally talk about interspecies transmission as a rare event, but this wasn't a huge sampling, and we're able to document 30 spillovers. It seems to be moving between people and animals quite easily." Watch: HPV: The STI that impacts 1 in 3 men worldwide × Bowman said: "And the evidence is growing that humans can get it from deer – which isn't radically surprising. It's probably not a one-way pipeline." "We expanded across Ohio to see if this was a localized problem – and we find it in lots of places, so it's not just a localized event," Bowman says. "Some of the thought back then was that maybe it's just in urban deer because they're in closer contact with people," he adds. "But in rural parts of the state, we're finding plenty of positive deer." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

COVID-19 in animals: SARS-CoV-2 evolving rapidly in free-ranging white-tailed deer

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Virus that causes Covid is widespread among wildlife species in US: Study

COVID-19 in animals: SARS-CoV-2 evolving rapidly in free-ranging white-tailed deer