SARS-CoV-2 infection in free-ranging white-tailed deer

Humans have infected a wide range of animals with SARS-CoV-2 viruses1-5,but the establishment of a new natural animal reservoir has not been observed.Here,we document that free-ranging white-tailed deer(Odocoileus virginianus)are highly susceptible to infection with SARS-CoV-2 virus,are exposed to a range of viral diversity from humans,and are capable of sustaining transmission in nature.SARS-CoV-2 virus was detected by rRT-PCR in more than one-third(129/360,35.8%)of nasal swabs obtained from Odocoileus virginianus in northeast Ohio(USA)during January-March 2021.Deer in 6 locations were infected with 3 SARS-CoV-2 lineages(B.1.2,B.1.582,B.1.596).The B.1.2 viruses,dominant in humans in Ohio at the time,infected deer in four locations.Probable deer-to-deer transmission of B.1.2,B.1.582,and B.1.596 viruses was observed,allowing the virus to acquire amino acid substitutions in the spike protein(including the receptor-binding domain)and ORF1 that are infrequently seen in humans.