THE SUSCEPTIBILITY OF NORTH AMERICAN RACCOONS (PROCYON LOTOR) AND STRIPED SKUNKS (MEPHITIS MEPHITIS) TO SARS-COV-2 AND THEIR HUSBANDRY IN A CONTAINMENT FACILITY

A sylvatic cycle of SARS-CoV-2 could present multiple opportunities for repeated spillback into human populations and other susceptible wildlife. Based on their taxonomy and natural history, two native North American wildlife species —the striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) and the raccoon (Procyon lotor) —represent a high likelihood of susceptibility and ecological opportunity of becoming infected with SARS-CoV-2. In our study, skunks and raccoons were intranasally inoculated or indirectly exposed to SARS-CoV-2. Both species are susceptible to infection; however, the lack of, and low quantity of infectious virus shed by raccoons and skunks, respectively, and lack of cage mate transmission in both species, suggest that neither species are competent reservoirs. However, continued outbreaks in non-domestic species, wild and captive, highlight that additional wildlife research is needed. Herein, we also describe the husbandry and handling techniques developed and effectively utilized for both species in BSL-3Ag to facilitate future research of wildlife in containment.