Serological evidence of SARS-CoV-2 exposure in marine mammals in the United States between 2020 and 2025
Abstract
Natural infections of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been documented in over 60 animal species, some distantly related. Several marine mammals have been predicted as highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection based on the homology of their ACE2 receptors to those of humans. To assess potential exposure of marine mammals to SARS-CoV-2, we conducted an opportunistic survey from 2020 to 2025 and tested 1,808 swabs and 378 serum samples from 21 marine mammal species in the United States. All the swabs tested by RT-qPCR were negative, indicating the absence of active infection. A low level of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies was detected in three pinniped species, including Phoca vitulina (harbor seal, 13.6%, 95% CI: 5.2–27.4%), Zalophus californianus (California sea lion, 7%, 95% CI: 1.9–17.0%), and Halichoerus grypus (grey seal, 3.7%, 95% CI: 0.5–12.7%). These findings represent the first serological evidence of SARS-CoV-2 exposure in marine mammals in the United States, highlighting the need for continued monitoring of these populations and further research on SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamics in wildlife.
Article Details
Authors (39)
Idrissa Nonmon Sanogo
Wendy B. Puryear
Alexa F. Simulynas
Robert DiGiovanni
Caroline E. Goertz
Natalie Hunter
Kathy Burek Huntington
Natalie Rouse
Rosemary E. Seton
Nicole E. Hunter
Kim Schulam
Stephen J. St. Pierre
Lynda Doughty
Jay Pagel
Allison D. Tuttle
Sarah Callan
Marina A. Piscitelli-Doshkov
Lisa Becker
Brian Fadely
Sarah M. Chinn
Anthony J. Orr
Heather Ziel
Josh London
Jessica L. Huggins
Deborah Fauquier
Sarah Wilkin
Ainsley Smith
Margot Madden
Maxine A. Montello
Alissa C. Deming
Michelle R. Rivard
Ashley Stokes
Lauren McDowell
Joanna Daniel
Dyanna Lambourn
Suzanne Thurman
Michelle Barbieri
Claudia Cedillo
Jonathan A. Runstadler