Predicting potential SARS-CoV-2 spillover and spillback in animals

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Virology
• Zoonotic Disease Epidemiology
• Comparative Genomics

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the rapid global spread of SARS-CoV-2.
• Human-to-animal and animal-to-human transmission pose significant risks, potentially creating cycles of viral spillover and spillback.
• This cycle can lead to new strains that may evade existing vaccines.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify potential animal hosts for SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses.
• To analyze the phylogenetic distance between host ACE2 and coronavirus spike proteins.
• To pinpoint animals at elevated risk for viral spillover and spillback incidents.

Main Methods:

• Phylogenetic analysis of host angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and coronavirus spike proteins.
• Identification of animals with spike proteins similar to SARS-CoV-2.
• Assessment of potential for internal and natural infections in various animal species.

Main Results:

• A group of animals, including minks, dogs, cats, and tigers, were identified as potentially susceptible to SARS-CoV-2.
• These animals harbor a parasitic coronavirus spike protein similar to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.
• Minks, dogs, cats, and tigers may act as amplification hosts in zoonotic spillover events, while masked palm civets showed no signs of infection.

Conclusions:

• This study offers a rapid method to identify high-risk animals for SARS-CoV-2 and other zoonotic diseases.
• The approach aids in prioritizing research and assessing transmission risks in multi-host environments.
• Identifying and monitoring these species can help prevent interspecies transmission, mitigating spillover and spillback events.