# Lack of detection of SARS-CoV-2 in wildlife from Kerala, India in 2020–21

## TL;DR

This study found no evidence of SARS-CoV-2 in various wildlife species from Kerala, India, between 2020 and 2021.

## Contribution

The study contributes new geographical data on the absence of SARS-CoV-2 in wildlife in a region with limited prior monitoring.

## Key findings

- SARS-CoV-2 was not detected in lung or gut tissues of 237 wildlife animals from Kerala.
- Testing used both pan-coronavirus and Sarbecovirus-specific PCR methods.
- Species included bats, primates, civets, and big cats, with no positive results.

## Abstract

Spillover of SARS-CoV-2 into a variety of wild and domestic animals has been an ongoing feature of the human pandemic. The establishment of a new reservoir in white-tailed deer in North America and increasing divergence of the viruses circulating in them from those circulating in the human population has highlighted the ongoing risk this poses for global health. Some parts of the world have seen more intensive monitoring of wildlife species for SARS-CoV-2 and related coronaviruses but there are still very large gaps in geographical and species-specific information. This paper reports negative results for SARS-CoV-2 PCR based testing using a pan coronavirus end point RDRP PCR and a Sarbecovirus specific E gene qPCR on lung and or gut tissue from wildlife from the Indian State of Kerala. These animals included: 121 Rhinolophus rouxii (Rufous Horsehoe Bat), six Rhinolophus bedommei (Lesser Woolly Horseshoe Bat), 15 Rossettus leschenaultii (Fulvous Fruit Bat), 47 Macaca radiata (Bonnet macaques), 35 Paradoxurus hermaphroditus (Common Palm Civet), five Viverricula indica (Small Indian Civet), four Herpestes edwardsii (Common Mongoose), ten Panthera tigris (Bengal Tiger), eight Panthera pardus fusca (Indian Leopard), four Prionailurus bengalensis (Leopard cats), two Felis chaus (Jungle cats), two Cuon alpinus (Wild dogs) and one Melursus ursinus (sloth bear).