Building testing capacity for past and current SARS-CoV-2 infection in animals with potential exposure to humans with COVID-19

Project Abstract The goal of this proposal is to build testing capacity at the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (WVDL) to perform serology detection and whole genome sequencing of SARS- CoV-2 from animal samples. We are requesting funding for the purchase of reagents and equipment to validate the SARS-CoV-2 Surrogate Virus Neutralization Test kit (GenScript) as a multi-species diagnostic serology assay, with specific focus on the detection of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 virus in companion animals. As part of a proposed Genomic Consortium, we are requesting funds to purchase a QIAxcel Adnavced System (Qiagen) and a MinION (Oxford Nanopore) Enhanced Pack to validate library preparation and sequencing kits for iSeq (Illumina) and MinION for targeted SARS-CoV-2 sequencing. We will participate in the development and validation of bioinformatics pipelines that will be made accessible to veterinary diagnostic personnel to quickly and efficiently determine genomic lineages, and develop a staff training and development program to maintain proficiency in sequencing and to analyze the SARS-COV-2 genome. Together, we aim to have a validated multi-species serological diagnostic assay and trained staff with streamline workflow for whole genome sequence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus detected in animal specimens, to increase our capacity and capability to support diagnostic activities for the ongoing global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. In turn, the acquired equipment and training will help building WVDL's readiness to response to potentially other important future veterinary disease outbreaks that are important to human food safety and animal welfare.