Wild CoV

Jeff’s team sampled white-tailed deer during Ontario’s Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) surveillance program in southwestern Ontario in autumn 2021 and discovered a highly divergent lineage of SARS-CoV-2 in deer. The lineage had 79 mutations compared to ancestral SARS-CoV-2, with the closest common ancestor being viruses derived from both mink and people in nearby Michigan, USA about a year earlier. The Ontario deer virus, now called B.1.641, shared some mutations with viruses derived from Michigan mink, but there were also some indications that it had been evolving in deer, given the observed mutations. While investigating the B.1.641 genomic sequences from virus that we recovered from deer, we also identified a human-derived virus from the same region of Ontario and sampling time frame, with a very similar genomic sequence, suggesting there has been spillback, or deer-to-human transmission of B.1.641. Since the discovery of B.1.641, we have been carrying out a surveillance program in southwestern Ontario to sample a range of mammal species to test for spillover of B..641 from deer to other wildlife species, and to evaluate the potential for the lineage to continue circulating in deer. We conduct live trapping surveys to sample free-ranging mammals, work with wildlife rehabilitators to sample animals in care, and partner with hunters through the CWD surveillance program to sample deer.

Arinjay’s team develop tools to study neglected animal reservoirs of emerging viruses. Perform infection studies to assess virus replication and host responses using classical virology and modern -omics based techniques. At the heart of our work is collaboration, knowledge exchange, and capacity building for outbreak and pandemic preparedness.

Sam’s team are conducting surveillance for coronaviruses in key wildlife species (e.g., bats and rodents) to characterize these viruses and understand their eco-epidemiology. A big part of the work we’re doing in the high containment lab right now is characterizing and comparing the different SARS-CoV-2 variants, and looking at SARS-CoV-2 spillover back into animals. These data can help with risk assessments for human and animal health as well as with conservation efforts for these wildlife species.

Claire’s team is collecting samples for SARS CoV-2 surveillance from mammalian wildlife submitted to the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, and through targeted research projects.  Our current targeted research projects are focused on wild small mammals (such as mice, rats, and voles) living in both urban and rural areas of Ontario.  Working closely with colleagues in Wild EPI, we hope to better understand the role of wildlife in the ecology of SARS-CoV-2.

Wild Mpox

The wildlife trade provides opportunities for disease transmission that may affect the health of humans, domestic animals, wildlife, and ecosystems. For example, monkeypox emerged in the United States as a consequence of the wildlife pet trade in 2003. Human exposure resulting in 47 confirmed or probable cases in six states was traced to contact with pet prairie dogs
that had been co-housed with monkeypox virus-infected rodents imported from Ghana (Prevention 2003). Currently, a global outbreak of monkeypox is being sustained through human-to-human transmission. This serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of supporting regional efforts for control in endemic regions, and of investing in global health and security.