key: cord-103046-w8bm4p44
authors: Suarez, David L.; Pantin-Jackwood, Mary J.; Swayne, David E.; Lee, Scott A.; DeBlois, Suzanne M.; Spackman, Erica
title: Lack of susceptibility of poultry to SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV
date: 2020-06-16
journal: bioRxiv
DOI: 10.1101/2020.06.16.154658
sha: 
doc_id: 103046
cord_uid: w8bm4p44

Chickens, turkeys, ducks, quail and geese were challenged with SARS-CoV-2 or MERS-CoV. No disease was observed, no virus replication was detected, and antibodies were not detected in serum. Neither virus replicated in embryonating chicken’s eggs. Poultry are unlikely to serve a role in the maintenance of either virus.

which it has 82% identity across the genome (2). SARS-CoV-2 is highly transmissible among 21 humans and particularly virulent for elderly individuals and those with certain underlying health 22

conditions. Multiple studies have examined the susceptibility of domestic animals to CoV-2 to establish the risk of zoonotic transmission and two studies have shown chickens and 24

Pekin ducks were not susceptible to infection (3, 4) . 25

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), another coronavirus of 26 high concern associated with zoonotic infection, was first detected in patients with severe acute 27 lower respiratory tract disease in Saudi Arabia in 2012. MERS-CoV causes lower respiratory 28 disease similar to the SARS-CoVs (5). Unlike SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV transmits poorly to 29 humans and does not exhibit sustained human-to-human transmission; however, it has a high 30 case fatality rate of around 30%. Although the MERS-CoV case count is low, human cases 31 continue to be reported, therefore there is a possibility for the virus to adapt to humans. 32

Based on sequence similarity, the closest relatives of SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV are 33 believed to be bat beta-coronaviruses (6), but because of the amount of sequence difference 34 between human and bat isolates an intermediary host likely exists. For MERS-CoV, dromedary 35 camels appear to be the primary natural reservoir of infection to humans, but other domestic 36 animals seem to be susceptible to infection (7, 8) . There is only a single study of MERS-CoV in 37 chickens that looked for antibodies, but all samples were negative (9). 38

Because poultry are so widespread and have close and extended contact with humans, 39 and other mammals in many production systems, including live animal markets, susceptibility 40 were conducted with SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV in five common poultry species. 41

Additionally, embryonating chicken eggs (ECE) have been utilized for the isolation and as a laboratory host system, including use in vaccine production, for diverse avian and mammalian 43 viruses. Therefore, ECE were tested for their ability to support the replication of both viruses. 

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