International Desk: The US government confirmed the world’s first cases of COVID-19 in deer, expanding the list of animals known to have tested positive for the disease.

On Friday, the US Department of Agriculture reported infections of SARS-CoV-2 in wild white-tailed deer in the state of Ohio, the virus that causes COVID-19, There were no reports of deer showing symptoms of infection, the USDA said.

Lyndsay Cole, USDA spokeswoman, in an e-mail to Reuters, “We do not know how the deer were exposed to SARS-CoV-2,”. It’s possible they were exposed by people, the environment, other deer, or other animal species. ”

Previously, the USDA has reported COVID-19 in animals, including dogs, cats, tigers, lions, snow leopards, otters, gorillas, and minks.

According to the agency, most animal infections were reported in species that had close contact with a person with COVID-19.

The USDA last month’s report said white-tailed deer populations in Illinois, Michigan, New York, and Pennsylvania were exposed to SARS-CoV-2, based on a study that analyzed serum samples from free-ranging deer for antibodies to the disease.

From January to March, The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine collected samples from infected deer in Ohio. The experiment was a part of ongoing studies, the USDA said.

The samples were believed to be positive for COVID-19 in university tests. The USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed these cases, according to the statement. Reuters