Researchers at Ohio State University have identified over 30 cases of SARS-CoV-2 spillover from humans to white-tailed deer in northeastern Ohio.

The study, published in Nature Communications, highlights the rapid evolution of the virus in a small deer sample.

Approximately 10% of nasal swabs from over 1552 free-ranging deer were positive for SARS-CoV-2.

Whole-genome sequencing revealed that 88.8% of deer samples carried the Delta variant, coinciding with the timing of the Delta wave in humans.

The rate of virus evolution in deer was estimated to be higher than in humans for both Alpha and Delta variants.

Despite these findings, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the US Department of Agriculture note a decrease in SARS-CoV-2 detections in white-tailed deer.

The persistence of the Alpha variant in deer for over a year raises concerns about the potential emergence of divergent strains that could re-infect humans.

The study highlights the need for further research to understand the role of spillover events in the evolution of SARS-CoV-2.