Permissiveness of American bison to infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2

Authors: Palmer, Mitchell; Devries, Alexandra; CASSMANN, ERIC - Iowa State University; Olsen, Steven; Nielsen, Daniel; Putz, Ellie; SEGER, HANNAH - Oak Ridge Institute For Science And Education (ORISE); CHANDLER, JEFFREY - Diagnostic Virology Laboratory/ National Veterinary Services Laboratories; Boggiatto, Paola

Submitted to: Nature Scientific Reports
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2025
Publication Date: 9/29/2025
Citation: Palmer, M.V., Devries, A.C., Cassmann, E.D., Olsen, S.C., Nielsen, D.W., Putz, E.J., Seger, H., Chandler, J.C., Boggiatto, P.M. 2025. Permissiveness of American bison to infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2. Nature Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10100-3.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10100-3

Interpretive Summary: The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic gave rise to over 775 million cases and over 7 million deaths. It is believed the virus originated in bats; moreover, since the pandemic began numerous animal species have been shown to be susceptible, both naturally and experimentally. Thus far, white-tailed deer represent the only wild species in which the virus is known to be established. There is concern that the COVID virus may eventually transmit back from deer-to-humans. There is a need to understand the host range of this important virus. We experimentally infected American bison and demonstrated limited susceptibility, represented by the presence of anti-virus antibodies, shedding of virus in nasal and oral secretions up to 5 days and persistence of virus in tissues up to 21 days after infection. This work is important to demonstrate the susceptibility of a species that is found both in the wild and in farmed settings. It shows that bison are unlikely to represent a reservoir of infection and a source of infection for other animals or humans.

Technical Abstract: The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in 2019 resulted in a worldwide pandemic giving rise to over 775 million cases and over 7 million deaths. Since the pandemic began, a number of animal species have been shown to be susceptible, both naturally and experimentally. Susceptibility predictions have been based on the similarities between the human ACE2 virus receptor with those of various animal species. The specificity of the interaction between virus and receptor is believed to reflect the range of susceptible hosts. In some studies, the probability of susceptibility of American bison has been predicted to be similar to that seen in cats and white-tailed deer. Here we experimentally infected bison with SARS-CoV-2 and demonstrated seroconversion of all infected bison, viral RNA on nasal and oral swabs up to 5 days post-infection, and in a single case focal interstitial pneumonia with intralesional viral RNA detected by in situ hybridization. These findings show that bison are more permissive than other ruminants such as cattle or sheep, but not as great as that seen with white-tailed deer, which have become a wildlife reservoir of SARS-CoV-2 in North America. Based on these findings, it is unlikely that bison may become a reservoir of infection and a source of infection for other animals or humans.