White-tailed deer susceptible to SARS-CoV-2, finds study White-tailed deer have been observed to be susceptible to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). They can also transmit the virus both through direct and indirect contact to one another, researchers find. The research paper is available to be read online in the The origins of SARS-CoV-2, the underlying causative agent for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), are still unknown. Genome sequencing of the virus has so far provided evidence of an origination event in horseshoe bats. However, as no evidence can be found for direct bat-human transmission, it seems likely that COVID-19 was passed to humans through an intermediate animal host, as has been observed in previous coronavirus outbreaks.