Evidence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in wild mustelids from Brittany (France)

ABSTRACT In the French region of Brittany, mainly in the department of the Côtes d’Armor, during the first semester of 2021, seropositivity for SARS-CoV-2 was detected in five wild mustelids out of 32 animals tested. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG against at least four out of five recombinant viral proteins (S1 receptor binding domain, nucleocapsid, S1 subunit, S2 subunit and spike) were detected using automated western blot technique in three martens ( Martes martes ) and two badgers ( Meles meles ). An ELISA test also objectified seropositivities. Although the 171 qPCRs carried out on samples from the 33 mustelids were all negative, these preliminary results (observational study) nevertheless bear witness to infections of unknown origin. The epidemiological surveillance of Covid-19 in wildlife must continue, in particular with the tools of efficient serology.