Spatial Variation of SARS-CoV-2 Exposure in Urban Rodents from the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires, Argentina: Implications for Public Health in Latin American Cities

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic, driven by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has become an unprecedented global public health challenge. Comprehensive investigation of the virus transmission dynamics requires exploration of all potential routes, including the role of animal reservoirs. This study aimed to assess the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and antibodies in urban rodents captured within two landscape units (low-income neighborhoods and green spaces) in the metropolitan area of Buenos Aires (MABA), Argentina. Methods: Between July 2020 and September 2022, 125 synanthropic rodents (68 Rattus norvegicus, 22 R. rattus, and 35 Mus musculus) from seven low-income neighborhoods and seven green spaces in the MABA were captured and examined for SARS-CoV-2 exposure and infection by indirect immunofluorescence serology and RT-qPCR, targeting the N, E, and ORF1ab genes. Results: Two M. musculus and six R. norvegicus from five different low-income neighborhoods tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. No rodent with positive serology was detected in green spaces. All rodents tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA when analyzed by RT-qPCR. Conclusion: The results of this study provide valuable insights into the ecological dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in synanthropic rodents in two landscape units within a Latin American city, with seropositive rodents detected in low-income neighborhoods, suggesting a possible increased exposure risk in these settings. This information is critical for developing management strategies for potentially zoonotic viruses and underscores the importance of continued surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in rodents as part of an integrated One Health approach.