tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Viruses
. 2022 Sep 9;14(9):2002.
doi: 10.3390/v14092002.
Susceptibility of Domestic Goat ( Capra aegagrus hircus) to Experimental Infection with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) B.1.351/Beta Variant
Leira Fernández-Bastit[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Núria Roca[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Miguel Romero-Durana[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Jordi Rodon[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Guillermo Cantero[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Óscar García[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Carlos López[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Mònica Pérez[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Rosa López[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Jorge Carrillo[SUP] 4 5 6 [/SUP], Nuria Izquierdo-Useros[SUP] 4 5 6 [/SUP], Julià Blanco[SUP] 4 5 6 7 [/SUP], Bonaventura Clotet[SUP] 4 7 8 [/SUP], Joan Pujols[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Júlia Vergara-Alert[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Joaquim Segalés[SUP] 1 9 [/SUP], Cristina Lorca-Oró[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
A wide range of animal species are susceptible to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Natural and/or experimental infections have been reported in pet, zoo, farmed and wild animals. Interestingly, some SARS-CoV-2 variants, such as B.1.1.7/Alpha, B.1.351/Beta, and B.1.1.529/Omicron, were demonstrated to infect some animal species not susceptible to classical viral variants. The present study aimed to elucidate if goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) are susceptible to the B.1.351/Beta variant. First, an in silico approach was used to predict the affinity between the receptor-binding domain of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.351/Beta variant and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 from goats. Moreover, we performed an experimental inoculation with this variant in domestic goat and showed evidence of infection. SARS-CoV-2 was detected in nasal swabs and tissues by RT-qPCR and/or immunohistochemistry, and seroneutralisation was confirmed via ELISA and live virus neutralisation assays. However, the viral amount and tissue distribution suggest a low susceptibility of goats to the B.1.351/Beta variant. Therefore, although monitoring livestock is advisable, it is unlikely that goats play a role as SARS-CoV-2 reservoir species, and they are not useful surrogates to study SARS-CoV-2 infection in farmed animals.
Keywords: Beta variant; experimental infection; goat; ruminant; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2); susceptibility.
. 2022 Sep 9;14(9):2002.
doi: 10.3390/v14092002.
Susceptibility of Domestic Goat ( Capra aegagrus hircus) to Experimental Infection with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) B.1.351/Beta Variant
Leira Fernández-Bastit[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Núria Roca[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Miguel Romero-Durana[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Jordi Rodon[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Guillermo Cantero[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Óscar García[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Carlos López[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Mònica Pérez[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Rosa López[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Jorge Carrillo[SUP] 4 5 6 [/SUP], Nuria Izquierdo-Useros[SUP] 4 5 6 [/SUP], Julià Blanco[SUP] 4 5 6 7 [/SUP], Bonaventura Clotet[SUP] 4 7 8 [/SUP], Joan Pujols[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Júlia Vergara-Alert[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Joaquim Segalés[SUP] 1 9 [/SUP], Cristina Lorca-Oró[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 36146808
- DOI: 10.3390/v14092002
Abstract
A wide range of animal species are susceptible to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Natural and/or experimental infections have been reported in pet, zoo, farmed and wild animals. Interestingly, some SARS-CoV-2 variants, such as B.1.1.7/Alpha, B.1.351/Beta, and B.1.1.529/Omicron, were demonstrated to infect some animal species not susceptible to classical viral variants. The present study aimed to elucidate if goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) are susceptible to the B.1.351/Beta variant. First, an in silico approach was used to predict the affinity between the receptor-binding domain of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.351/Beta variant and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 from goats. Moreover, we performed an experimental inoculation with this variant in domestic goat and showed evidence of infection. SARS-CoV-2 was detected in nasal swabs and tissues by RT-qPCR and/or immunohistochemistry, and seroneutralisation was confirmed via ELISA and live virus neutralisation assays. However, the viral amount and tissue distribution suggest a low susceptibility of goats to the B.1.351/Beta variant. Therefore, although monitoring livestock is advisable, it is unlikely that goats play a role as SARS-CoV-2 reservoir species, and they are not useful surrogates to study SARS-CoV-2 infection in farmed animals.
Keywords: Beta variant; experimental infection; goat; ruminant; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2); susceptibility.