Monitoring for respiratory viruses among wild canids, Texas
Lyudmyla V. Marushchak,
Laura A. Pulscher,
Judith U. Oguzie,
Diego B. Silva,
Kenneth A. Waldrup,
Douglas M. Watts,
Gregory C. Gray
Affiliations
Lyudmyla V. Marushchak
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA; Corresponding author at: University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Route 0435, Galveston, Texas 77555, USA.
Laura A. Pulscher
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
Judith U. Oguzie
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
Diego B. Silva
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
Kenneth A. Waldrup
Texas Department of State Health Services, Zoonosis Control Branch, El Paso, TX, USA
Douglas M. Watts
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
Gregory C. Gray
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA; Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA; Department of Global Health, School of Public and Population Health, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
The cross-species transmission of respiratory viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 and avian influenza underscores the need for novel respiratory virus surveillance at the human-animal interface. In this 2023 pilot study we examined oral and rectal swab samples from 15 deceased wild animals for novel respiratory viruses. We used virus molecular techniques, culture and next-generation nucleotide sequencing to search for and characterize viruses in the Coronaviridae and Orthomyxoviridae families. Through these activities we detected and characterized one canine coronaviruses (CCoVs) each from a gray fox (Urocyon cinereorgenteus) and a feral dog (Canis lupus familiaris). The gray fox CCoV sequence clustered with other CCoVs reported in other canids from other regions of the world. The feral dog CCoV sequence was closely related to CCoVs reported in Brazil and the United Kingdom. This pilot study demonstrated the usefulness of a noninvasive monitoring approach in detecting and characterizing respiratory viruses among wild canids.
