%0 Journal Article
%T Absence of SARS-CoV-2 in wildlife of northeastern Minnesota and Isle Royale National Park.
%A CastaƱeda D
%A Isaac EJ
%A Schnieders BP
%A Kautz T
%A Romanski MC
%A Moore SA
%A Aliota MT
%J Zoonoses Public Health
%V 0
%N 0
%D 2024 Jun 9
%M 38853397
%F 2.954
%R 10.1111/zph.13162
%X OBJECTIVE: We investigated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in free-ranging wildlife populations in Northeastern Minnesota on the Grand Portage Indian Reservation and Isle Royale National Park.
RESULTS: One hundred twenty nasal samples were collected from white-tailed deer, moose, grey wolves and black bears monitored for conservation efforts during 2022-2023. Samples were tested for viral RNA by RT-qPCR using the CDC N1/N2 primer set. Our data indicate that no wildlife samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA.
CONCLUSIONS: Continued surveillance is therefore crucial to better understand the changing landscape of zoonotic SARS-CoV-2 in the Upper Midwest.