Wild red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) do not participate in SARS-CoV-2 circulation in Poland
Aleksander Goll,
Martyna Krupińska,
Joanna Nowicka,
Karolina Baranowicz,
Lukasz Rabalski,
Anna Lass,
Aleksandra Gorska,
Tarja Sironen,
Ravi Kant,
Maciej Grzybek
Affiliations
Aleksander Goll
Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdynia, Poland
Martyna Krupińska
Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdynia, Poland
Joanna Nowicka
Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdynia, Poland
Karolina Baranowicz
Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdynia, Poland
Lukasz Rabalski
Faculty of Biotechnology of University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
Anna Lass
Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdynia, Poland
Aleksandra Gorska
Faculty of Medical Sciences, Medical University in Lublin, Lublin, Poland
Tarja Sironen
Department of Virology, Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland
Ravi Kant
Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdynia, Poland; Department of Virology, Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland; Corresponding authors at: Department of Tropical Parasitology, Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Powstania Styczniowego 9B, 81-519 Gdynia, Poland.
Maciej Grzybek
Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdynia, Poland; Corresponding authors at: Department of Tropical Parasitology, Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Powstania Styczniowego 9B, 81-519 Gdynia, Poland.
Background: Biomonitoring is an essential activity for identifying possible vectors and reservoirs of pathogens and predicting potential outbreaks. Wild red foxes are present in both sylvatic and synanthropic environments, making them potential carriers of zoonotic pathogens. Experimental studies have shown that both coyotes and red foxes can transmit SARS-CoV-2. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in wild red foxes hunted in northern Poland. Methods: Oral swabs, blood clots or heat tissue samples were collected from 292 red foxes hunted in northern Poland. We used both molecular (RT-PCR) and serological (IFA) approaches to detect SARS-CoV-2 infections in the sampled animals. Results: We did not find any evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the collected samples, using both molecular and serological methods. Conclusions: Despite foxes having frequent contact with humans, human waste, and other animals, they do not appear to participate in the circulation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in our geographical region. Nevertheless, we believe that continuous biomonitoring should be performed to assess the SARS-CoV-2 epidemiological situation in the wild.
