Highly divergent white-tailed deer SARS-CoV-2 with potential deer-to-human transmission

Wildlife reservoirs of SARS-CoV-2 can lead to viral adaptation and spillback from wildlife to humans ([Oude Munnink et al., 2021][1]). In North America, there is evidence of spillover of SARS-CoV-2 from humans to white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ), but no evidence of transmission from deer to humans ([Hale et al., 2021][2]; [Kotwa et al., 2022][3]; [Kuchipudi et al., 2021][4]). Through a multidisciplinary research collaboration for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance in Canadian wildlife, we identified a new and highly divergent lineage of SARS-CoV-2. This lineage has 76 consensus mutations including 37 previously associated with non-human animal hosts, 23 of which were not previously reported in deer. There were also mutational signatures of host adaptation under neutral selection. Phylogenetic analysis revealed an epidemiologically linked human case from the same geographic region and sampling period. Together, our findings represent the first evidence of a highly divergent lineage of SARS-CoV-2 in white-tailed deer and of deer-to-human transmission. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. [1]: #ref-52 [2]: #ref-24 [3]: #ref-37 [4]: #ref-38