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Oltjen H, Crook E, Lanier WA, Rettler H, Oakeson KF, Young EL, Torchetti M, Van Wettere AJ. SARS-CoV-2 delta variant in African lions (Panthera leo) and humans at Utah's Hogle Zoo, USA, 2021-22. Zoonoses Public Health 2024. [PMID: 38825749 DOI: 10.1111/zph.13156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
AIMS We conducted a One Health investigation to assess the source and transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 infection in African lions (Panthera leo) at Utah's Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City from October 2021 to February 2022. METHODS AND RESULTS Following observation of respiratory illness in the lions, zoo staff collected pooled faecal samples and individual nasal swabs from four lions. All specimens tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The resulting investigation included: lion observation; RT-PCR testing of lion faeces every 1-7 days; RT-PCR testing of lion respiratory specimens every 2-3 weeks; staff interviews and RT-PCR testing; whole-genome sequencing of viruses from lions and staff; and comparison with existing SARS-CoV-2 human community surveillance sequences. In addition to all five lions, three staff displayed respiratory symptoms. All lions recovered and no hospitalizations or deaths were reported among staff. Three staff reported close contact with the lions in the 10 days before lion illness onset, one of whom developed symptoms and tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on days 3 and 4, respectively, after lion illness onset. The other two did not report symptoms or test positive. Two staff who did not have close contact with the lions were symptomatic and tested positive on days 5 and 8, respectively, after lion illness onset. We detected SARS-CoV-2 RNA in lion faeces for 33 days and in lion respiratory specimens for 14 weeks after illness onset. The viruses from lions were genetically highly related to those from staff and two contemporaneous surveillance specimens from Salt Lake County; all were delta variants (AY.44). CONCLUSIONS We did not determine the sources of these infections, although human-to-lion transmission likely occurred. The observed period of respiratory shedding was longer than in previously documented SARS-CoV-2 infections in large felids, indicating the need to further assess duration and potential implications of shedding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather Oltjen
- Utah Department of Health and Human Services, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | | | - William A Lanier
- Utah Department of Health and Human Services, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office of Readiness and Response, Division of State and Local Readiness, Career Epidemiology Field Officer Program, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- US Public Health Service, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Hannah Rettler
- Utah Department of Health and Human Services, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Kelly F Oakeson
- Utah Public Health Laboratory, Utah Department of Health and Human Services, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Erin L Young
- Utah Public Health Laboratory, Utah Department of Health and Human Services, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Mia Torchetti
- National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, Iowa, USA
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Mūrniece G, Šteingolde Ž, Cvetkova S, Valciņa O, Zrelovs Ņ, Brīvība M, Kloviņš J, Birzniece L, Megnis K, Fridmanis D, Bērziņš A, Kovaļčuka L, Kovaļenko K. Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in domestic cats (Felis catus) during COVID-19 pandemic in Latvia. Vet Med Sci 2024; 10:e1338. [PMID: 38140758 PMCID: PMC10951624 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.1338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is of zoonotic origin and has shown reverse zoonotic transmissibility. OBJECTIVES The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the serological and molecular prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the domestic cat (Felis catus) population from Latvia in natural conditions and subsequently perform viral genome analysis. METHODS Oropharyngeal and rectal swabs and blood samples were collected from 273 domestic cats during the second wave of COVID-19 infection in Latvia. Molecular prevalence was determined by using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Serum samples were analysed via double antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay targeting the antibody against the nucleocapsid protein of SARS-CoV-2. Positive swab samples were analysed using whole viral genome sequencing and subsequent phylogenetic analysis of the whole genome sequencing data of the samples was performed. RESULTS The overall SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR positivity and seroprevalence was 1.1% (3/273) and 2.6% (7/273), respectively. The SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences from three RT-PCR positive cats were assigned to the three common lineages (PANGOLIN lineage S.1.; B.1.177.60. and B.1.1.7.) circulating in Latvia during the particular period of time. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that feline infection with SARS-CoV-2 occurred during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Latvia, yet the overall prevalence was low. In addition, it seems like no special 'cat' pre-adaptations were necessary for successful infection of cats by the common lineages of SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gundega Mūrniece
- Faculty of Veterinary MedicineLatvia University of Life Sciences and TechnologiesJelgavaLatvia
| | - Žanete Šteingolde
- Institute of Food SafetyAnimal Health and Environment “BIOR”RigaLatvia
| | - Svetlana Cvetkova
- Institute of Food SafetyAnimal Health and Environment “BIOR”RigaLatvia
| | - Olga Valciņa
- Institute of Food SafetyAnimal Health and Environment “BIOR”RigaLatvia
| | | | - Monta Brīvība
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study CentreRigaLatvia
| | - Jānis Kloviņš
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study CentreRigaLatvia
| | | | | | | | - Aivars Bērziņš
- Faculty of Veterinary MedicineLatvia University of Life Sciences and TechnologiesJelgavaLatvia
- Institute of Food SafetyAnimal Health and Environment “BIOR”RigaLatvia
| | - Līga Kovaļčuka
- Faculty of Veterinary MedicineLatvia University of Life Sciences and TechnologiesJelgavaLatvia
| | - Kaspars Kovaļenko
- Faculty of Veterinary MedicineLatvia University of Life Sciences and TechnologiesJelgavaLatvia
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3
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Silva MJA, Santana DS, Lima MBM, Silva CS, de Oliveira LG, Monteiro EOL, Dias RDS, Pereira BDKB, Nery PADS, Ferreira MAS, Sarmento MADS, Ayin AAN, Mendes de Oliveira AC, Lima KVB, Lima LNGC. Assessment of the Risk Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Infection Prevalence between Cats and Dogs in America and Europe: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Pathogens 2024; 13:314. [PMID: 38668269 PMCID: PMC11053406 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13040314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic represented a huge obstacle for public health and demonstrated weaknesses in surveillance and health promotion systems around the world. Its etiological agent, SARS-CoV-2, of zoonotic origin, has been the target of several studies related to the control and prevention of outbreaks and epidemics of COVID-19 not only for humans but also for animals. Domestic animals, such as dogs and cats, have extensive contact with humans and can acquire the infection both naturally and directly from humans. The objective of this article was to summarize the seroprevalence findings of SARS-CoV-2 in dogs and cats and correlate them with the strength of infection risk between each of them. This is a systematic review and meta-analysis following the recommendations of PRISMA 2020. The search and selection of papers was carried out using in vivo experimental works with animals using the descriptors (MeSH/DeCS) "Animal", "Public Health", "SARS-CoV-2" and "Pandemic" (together with AND) in English, Portuguese or Spanish for Science Direct, PUBMED, LILACS and SciELO databases. The ARRIVE checklist was used for methodological evaluation and the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis v2.2 software with the Difference Risk (RD) test to evaluate statistical inferences (with subgroups by continent). Cats showed greater susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 compared to dogs both in a joint analysis of studies (RD = 0.017; 95% CI = 0.008-0.025; p < 0.0001) and in the American subgroup (RD = 0.053; 95% CI = 0.032-0.073; p < 0.0001), unlike the lack of significant difference on the European continent (RD = 0.009; 95% CI = -0.001-0.018; p = 0.066). Therefore, it was observed that cats have a greater interest in health surveillance due to the set of biological and ecological aspects of these animals, but also that there are a set of factors that can influence the spread and possible spillover events of the virus thanks to the anthropozoonotic context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Jessé Abrahão Silva
- Center for Biological and Health Sciences (CCBS), University of the State of Pará (UEPA), Belém 66087-670, PA, Brazil;
| | - Davi Silva Santana
- Institute of Health Sciences (ICS), Institute of Biological Sciences (ICB), Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Belém 66077-830, PA, Brazil; (D.S.S.); (M.B.M.L.); (R.d.S.D.); (M.A.S.F.); (A.C.M.d.O.)
| | - Marceli Batista Martins Lima
- Institute of Health Sciences (ICS), Institute of Biological Sciences (ICB), Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Belém 66077-830, PA, Brazil; (D.S.S.); (M.B.M.L.); (R.d.S.D.); (M.A.S.F.); (A.C.M.d.O.)
| | - Caroliny Soares Silva
- Center for Biological and Health Sciences (CCBS), University of the State of Pará (UEPA), Belém 66087-670, PA, Brazil;
| | - Letícia Gomes de Oliveira
- Evandro Chagas Institute (IEC), Ananindeua 67030-000, PA, Brazil; (L.G.d.O.); (K.V.B.L.); (L.N.G.C.L.)
| | | | - Rafael dos Santos Dias
- Institute of Health Sciences (ICS), Institute of Biological Sciences (ICB), Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Belém 66077-830, PA, Brazil; (D.S.S.); (M.B.M.L.); (R.d.S.D.); (M.A.S.F.); (A.C.M.d.O.)
| | - Bruna de Kássia Barbosa Pereira
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of the Amazon (UNAMA), Belém 66120-901, PA, Brazil; (B.d.K.B.P.); (P.A.d.S.N.)
| | - Paula Andresa da Silva Nery
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of the Amazon (UNAMA), Belém 66120-901, PA, Brazil; (B.d.K.B.P.); (P.A.d.S.N.)
| | - Márcio André Silva Ferreira
- Institute of Health Sciences (ICS), Institute of Biological Sciences (ICB), Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Belém 66077-830, PA, Brazil; (D.S.S.); (M.B.M.L.); (R.d.S.D.); (M.A.S.F.); (A.C.M.d.O.)
| | | | - Andrea Alexandra Narro Ayin
- Faculty of Medicine, Centro Universitário do Estado do Pará (CESUPA), Belém 66613-903, PA, Brazil; (M.A.d.S.S.); (A.A.N.A.)
| | - Ana Cristina Mendes de Oliveira
- Institute of Health Sciences (ICS), Institute of Biological Sciences (ICB), Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Belém 66077-830, PA, Brazil; (D.S.S.); (M.B.M.L.); (R.d.S.D.); (M.A.S.F.); (A.C.M.d.O.)
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Niu S, Zhao Z, Liu Z, Rong X, Chai Y, Bai B, Han P, Shang G, Ren J, Wang Y, Zhao X, Liu K, Tian WX, Wang Q, Gao GF. Structural basis and analysis of hamster ACE2 binding to different SARS-CoV-2 spike RBDs. J Virol 2024; 98:e0115723. [PMID: 38305152 PMCID: PMC10949455 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01157-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Pet golden hamsters were first identified being infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) delta variant of concern (VOC) and transmitted the virus back to humans in Hong Kong in January 2022. Here, we studied the binding of two hamster (golden hamster and Chinese hamster) angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) proteins to the spike protein receptor-binding domains (RBDs) of SARS-CoV-2 prototype and eight variants, including alpha, beta, gamma, delta, and four omicron sub-variants (BA.1, BA.2, BA.3, and BA.4/BA.5). We found that the two hamster ACE2s present slightly lower affinity for the RBDs of all nine SARS-CoV-2 viruses tested than human ACE2 (hACE2). Furthermore, the similar infectivity to host cells expressing hamster ACE2s and hACE2 was confirmed with the nine pseudotyped SARS-CoV-2 viruses. Additionally, we determined two cryo-electron microscopy (EM) complex structures of golden hamster ACE2 (ghACE2)/delta RBD and ghACE2/omicron BA.3 RBD. The residues Q34 and N82, which exist in many rodent ACE2s, are responsible for the lower binding affinity of ghACE2 compared to hACE2. These findings suggest that all SARS-CoV-2 VOCs may infect hamsters, highlighting the necessity of further surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in these animals.IMPORTANCESARS-CoV-2 can infect many domestic animals, including hamsters. There is an urgent need to understand the binding mechanism of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants to hamster receptors. Herein, we showed that two hamster angiotensin-converting enzyme 2s (ACE2s) (golden hamster ACE2 and Chinese hamster ACE2) can bind to the spike protein receptor-binding domains (RBDs) of SARS-CoV-2 prototype and eight variants and that pseudotyped SARS-CoV-2 viruses can infect hamster ACE2-expressing cells. The binding pattern of golden hamster ACE2 to SARS-CoV-2 RBDs is similar to that of Chinese hamster ACE2. The two hamster ACE2s present slightly lower affinity for the RBDs of all nine SARS-CoV-2 viruses tested than human ACE2. We solved the cryo-electron microscopy (EM) structures of golden hamster ACE2 in complex with delta RBD and omicron BA.3 RBD and found that residues Q34 and N82 are responsible for the lower binding affinity of ghACE2 compared to hACE2. Our work provides valuable information for understanding the cross-species transmission mechanism of SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Niu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, China
| | - Zhennan Zhao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhimin Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, China
| | - Xiaoyu Rong
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Yan Chai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bin Bai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Pengcheng Han
- School of Medicine, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Guijun Shang
- Cryo-EM Center, Shanxi Academy of Advanced Research and Innovation, Taiyuan, China
| | - Jianle Ren
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, China
| | - Ying Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, China
| | - Xin Zhao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Kefang Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wen-xia Tian
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, China
| | - Qihui Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - George Fu Gao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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5
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Fang R, Yang X, Guo Y, Peng B, Dong R, Li S, Xu S. SARS-CoV-2 infection in animals: Patterns, transmission routes, and drivers. ECO-ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH (ONLINE) 2024; 3:45-54. [PMID: 38169914 PMCID: PMC10758742 DOI: 10.1016/j.eehl.2023.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is more widespread in animals than previously thought, and it may be able to infect a wider range of domestic and wild species. To effectively control the spread of the virus and protect animal health, it is crucial to understand the cross-species transmission mechanisms and risk factors of SARS-CoV-2. This article collects published literature on SARS-CoV-2 in animals and examines the distribution, transmission routes, biophysical, and anthropogenic drivers of infected animals. The reported cases of infection in animals are mainly concentrated in South America, North America, and Europe, and species affected include lions, white-tailed deer, pangolins, minks, and cats. Biophysical factors influencing infection of animals with SARS-CoV-2 include environmental determinants, high-risk landscapes, air quality, and susceptibility of different animal species, while anthropogenic factors comprise human behavior, intensive livestock farming, animal markets, and land management. Due to current research gaps and surveillance capacity shortcomings, future mitigation strategies need to be designed from a One Health perspective, with research focused on key regions with significant data gaps in Asia and Africa to understand the drivers, pathways, and spatiotemporal dynamics of interspecies transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruying Fang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Xin Yang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Yiyang Guo
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Bingjie Peng
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Ruixuan Dong
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Sen Li
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Shunqing Xu
- School of Life Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
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6
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Thongyuan S, Thanongsaksrikul J, Srimanote P, Phongphaew W, Eiamcharoen P, Thengchaisri N, Bosco-Lauth A, Decaro N, Yodsheewan R. Seroprevalence of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Cats during Five Waves of COVID-19 Epidemic in Thailand and Correlation with Human Outbreaks. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:761. [PMID: 38473145 DOI: 10.3390/ani14050761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Human-to-animal SARS-CoV-2 transmission was observed, including a veterinarian contracting COVID-19 through close contact with an infected cat, suggesting an atypical zoonotic transmission. This study investigated the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in cats during human outbreaks and elucidated the correlation between cat infections and human epidemics. A total of 1107 cat serum samples were collected and screened for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies using a modified indirect ELISA human SARS-CoV-2 antibody detection kit. The samples were confirmed using a cPass™ neutralization test. The SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity rate was 22.67% (199/878), mirroring the trend observed in concomitant human case numbers. The waves of the epidemic and the provinces did not significantly impact ELISA-positive cats. Notably, Chon Buri exhibited a strong positive correlation (r = 0.99, p = 0.009) between positive cat sera and reported human case numbers. Additionally, the cPass™ neutralization test revealed a 3.99% (35/878) seropositivity rate. There were significant differences in numbers and proportions of positive cat sera between epidemic waves. In Samut Sakhon, a positive correlation (r = 1, p = 0.042) was noted between the proportion of positive cat sera and human prevalence. The findings emphasize the need for ongoing surveillance to comprehend SARS-CoV-2 dynamics in both human and feline populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suporn Thongyuan
- Department of Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand
| | - Jeeraphong Thanongsaksrikul
- Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Thammasat University, Pathumtani 12121, Thailand
| | - Potjanee Srimanote
- Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Thammasat University, Pathumtani 12121, Thailand
| | - Wallaya Phongphaew
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Piyaporn Eiamcharoen
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Naris Thengchaisri
- Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Angela Bosco-Lauth
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, 3107 W Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Nicola Decaro
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Strada Provinciale per Casamassima, Valenzano, 70010 Bari, Italy
| | - Rungrueang Yodsheewan
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
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Choi A, Stout AE, Rollins A, Wang K, Guo Q, Javier AJ, Kennedy M, Wagner B, Whittaker GR. SARS-CoV-2 serosurvey of healthy, privately owned cats presenting to a New York City animal hospital in the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021). BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.13.580068. [PMID: 38405835 PMCID: PMC10888843 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.13.580068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Both domestic and non-domestic cats are now established to be susceptible to infection by SARS-CoV-2, the cause of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While serious disease in cats may occur in some instances, the majority of infections appear to be subclinical. Differing prevalence data for SARS-CoV-2 infection of cats have been reported, and are highly context-dependent. Here, we report a retrospective serological survey of cats presented to an animal practice in New York City, located in close proximity to a large medical center that treated the first wave of COVID-19 patients in the US in the Spring of 2020. We sampled 79, mostly indoor, cats between June 2020 to May 2021, the early part of which time the community was under a strict public health "lock-down". Using a highly sensitive and specific fluorescent bead-based multiplex assay, we found an overall prevalence of 13/79 (16%) serologically-positive animals for the study period; however, cats sampled in the Fall of 2020 had a confirmed positive prevalence of 44%. For SARS-CoV-2 seropositive cats, we performed viral neutralization test with live SARS-CoV-2 to additionally confirm presence of SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies. Of the thirteen seropositive cats, 7/13 (54%) were also positive by virus neutralization, and 2 of seropositive cats had previously documented respiratory signs, with high neutralization titers of 1:1024 and 1:4096; overall however, there was no statistically significant association of SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity with respiratory signs, or with breed, sex or age of the animals. Follow up sampling of cats, while limited in scope, showed that positive serological titers were maintained over time. In comparison, we found an overall confirmed positive prevalence of 51% for feline coronavirus (FCoV), an endemic virus of cats, with 30% confirmed negative for FCoV. We demonstrate the impact of SARS-CoV in a defined feline population during the first wave of SARS-CoV-2 infection of humans, and suggest that human-cat transmission was substantial in our study group. Our data provide a new context for SARS-CoV-2 transmission events across species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annette Choi
- Departments of Microbiology & Immunology, New York NY
| | | | | | - Kally Wang
- Departments of Microbiology & Immunology, New York NY
- Public Health Program, New York NY
| | - Qinghua Guo
- Departments of Microbiology & Immunology, New York NY
- Public Health Program, New York NY
| | | | - Monica Kennedy
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca NY and Sutton Animal Hospital, New York NY
| | | | - Gary R. Whittaker
- Departments of Microbiology & Immunology, New York NY
- Public & Ecosystem Health, New York NY
- Public Health Program, New York NY
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8
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Nilsson MG, Santana Cordeiro MDC, Gonçalves ACA, Dos Santos Conzentino M, Huergo LF, Vicentini F, Reis JBL, Biondo AW, Kmetiuk LB, da Silva AV. High seroprevalence for SARS-CoV-2 infection in dogs: Age as risk factor for infection in shelter and foster home animals. Prev Vet Med 2024; 222:106094. [PMID: 38103433 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2023.106094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 has caused 775 outbreaks in 29 animal species across 36 countries, including dogs, cats, ferrets, minks, non-human primates, white-tailed deer, and lions. Although transmission from owners to dogs has been extensively described, no study to date has also compared sheltered, foster home and owner dogs and associated risk factors. This study aimed to identify SARS-CoV-2 infection and anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies from sheltered, fostered, and owned dogs, associated with environmental and management risk factors. Serum samples and swabs were collected from each dog, and an epidemiological questionnaire was completed by the shelter manager, foster care, and owner. A total of 111 dogs, including 222 oropharyngeal and rectal swabs, tested negative by RT-qPCR. Overall, 18/89 (20.22%) dogs presented IgG antibodies against the N protein of SARS-CoV-2 by magnetic ELISA, while none showed a reaction to the Spike protein. SARS-CoV-2 antibodies showed an age-related association, with 4.16 chance of positivity in adult dogs when compared with young ones. High population density among dogs and humans, coupled with repeated COVID-19 exposure, emerged as potential risk factors in canine virus epidemiology. Dogs exhibited higher seropositivity rates in these contexts. Thus, we propose expanded seroepidemiological and molecular studies across species and scenarios, including shelter dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Guimarães Nilsson
- Graduate College of Animal Science in the Tropics, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), 40170-110 Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
| | | | | | | | | | - Fernando Vicentini
- Health Sciences Center, Federal University of the Recôncavo of Bahia (UFRB), 44430-622 Santo Antônio de Jesus, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Jeiza Botelho Leal Reis
- Health Sciences Center, Federal University of the Recôncavo of Bahia (UFRB), 44430-622 Santo Antônio de Jesus, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Alexander Welker Biondo
- Graduate College of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), 81531-970 Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Louise Bach Kmetiuk
- Carlos Chagas Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Curitiba, Paraná 81310-020, Brazil
| | - Aristeu Vieira da Silva
- Zoonosis and Public Health Research Group, Earth and Environmental Science Modelling Graduate, State University of Feira de Santana (UEFS), 44036-900 Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil.
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9
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Yamayoshi S, Ito M, Iwatsuki-Horimoto K, Yasuhara A, Okuda M, Hamabata T, Murakami J, Duong C, Yamamoto T, Kuroda Y, Maeda K, Kawaoka Y. Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in dogs and cats during the early and mid-pandemic periods in Japan. One Health 2023; 17:100588. [PMID: 37359748 PMCID: PMC10279464 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2023.100588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has continued to circulate in humans since its emergence in 2019. While infection in humans continues, numerous spillover events to at least 32 animal species, including companion and zoo animals, have been reported. Since dogs and cats are highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 and have direct contact with their owners and other household members, it is important to know the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in dogs and cats. Here, we established an ELISA to detect serum antibodies against the receptor-binding domain and the ectodomain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike and nucleocapsid proteins. Using this ELISA, we assessed seroprevalence in 488 dog serum samples and 355 cat serum samples that were collected during the early pandemic period (between May and June of 2020) and 312 dog serum samples and 251 cat serum samples that were collected during the mid-pandemic period (between October 2021 and January 2022). We found that two dog serum samples (0.41%) collected in 2020, one cat serum sample (0.28%) collected in 2020, and four cat serum samples (1.6%) collected in 2021 were positive for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. No dog serum samples collected in 2021 were positive for these antibodies. We conclude that the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in dogs and cats in Japan is low, suggesting that these animals are not a major SARS-CoV-2 reservoir.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seiya Yamayoshi
- Division of Virology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Japan
- International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Japan
- Research Center for Global Viral Infections, National Center for Global Health and Medicine Research Institute, Japan
| | - Mutsumi Ito
- Division of Virology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Atsuhiro Yasuhara
- Division of Virology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Japan
| | - Moe Okuda
- Division of Virology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Japan
| | - Taiki Hamabata
- Division of Virology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jurika Murakami
- Division of Virology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Japan
| | - Calvin Duong
- Division of Virology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tsukasa Yamamoto
- Department of Veterinary Science, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan
| | - Yudai Kuroda
- Department of Veterinary Science, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan
| | - Ken Maeda
- Department of Veterinary Science, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Kawaoka
- Division of Virology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Japan
- Research Center for Global Viral Infections, National Center for Global Health and Medicine Research Institute, Japan
- The University of Tokyo Pandemic Preparedness, Infection and Advanced Research Center, Japan
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
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10
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Cordero-Ortiz M, Reséndiz-Sandoval M, Dehesa-Canseco F, Solís-Hernández M, Pérez-Sánchez J, Martínez-Borges C, Mata-Haro V, Hernández J. Development of a Multispecies Double-Antigen Sandwich ELISA Using N and RBD Proteins to Detect Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3487. [PMID: 38003105 PMCID: PMC10668785 DOI: 10.3390/ani13223487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 infects humans and a broad spectrum of animal species, such as pets, zoo animals, and nondomestic animals. Monitoring infection in animals is important in terms of the risk of interspecies transmission and the emergence of new viral variants. Economical, fast, efficient, and sensitive diagnostic tests are needed to analyze animal infection. Double-antigen sandwich ELISA has the advantage of being multispecies and can be used for detecting infections caused by pathogens that infect several animal hosts. This study aimed to develop a double-antigen sandwich ELISA using two SARS-CoV-2 proteins, N and RBD. We compared its performance, when using these proteins separately, with an indirect ELISA and with a surrogate virus neutralization test. Positive and negative controls from a cat population (n = 31) were evaluated to compare all of the tests. After confirming that double-antigen sandwich ELISA with both RBD and N proteins had the best performance (AUC= 88%), the cutoff was adjusted using positive and negative samples from cats, humans (n = 32) and guinea pigs (n = 3). The use of samples from tigers (n = 2) and rats (n = 51) showed good agreement with the results previously obtained using the microneutralization test. Additionally, a cohort of samples from dogs with unknown infection status was evaluated. These results show that using two SARS-CoV-2 proteins in the double-antigen sandwich ELISA increases its performance and turns it into a valuable assay with which to monitor previous infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 in different animal species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maritza Cordero-Ortiz
- Laboratorio de Inmunología, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C., Hermosillo 83304, Sonora, Mexico; (M.C.-O.); (M.R.-S.)
| | - Mónica Reséndiz-Sandoval
- Laboratorio de Inmunología, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C., Hermosillo 83304, Sonora, Mexico; (M.C.-O.); (M.R.-S.)
| | - Freddy Dehesa-Canseco
- Comisión México-Estados Unidos para la Prevención de la Fiebre Aftosa y otras Enfermedades Exóticas de los Animales (CPA), Servicio Nacional de Sanidad, Inocuidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria (SENASICA), Secretaría de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural (SADER), Ciudad de Mexico 05110, Mexico State, Mexico; (F.D.-C.); (M.S.-H.)
| | - Mario Solís-Hernández
- Comisión México-Estados Unidos para la Prevención de la Fiebre Aftosa y otras Enfermedades Exóticas de los Animales (CPA), Servicio Nacional de Sanidad, Inocuidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria (SENASICA), Secretaría de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural (SADER), Ciudad de Mexico 05110, Mexico State, Mexico; (F.D.-C.); (M.S.-H.)
| | - Jahir Pérez-Sánchez
- Centro de Biotecnología Genómica, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Cd., Reynosa 88710, Tamaulipas, Mexico;
| | | | - Verónica Mata-Haro
- Laboratorio de Microbiología e Inmunología, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C., Hermosillo 83304, Sonora, Mexico;
| | - Jesús Hernández
- Laboratorio de Inmunología, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C., Hermosillo 83304, Sonora, Mexico; (M.C.-O.); (M.R.-S.)
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11
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Gin TE, Petzold EA, Uthappa DM, Neighbors CE, Borough AR, Gin C, Lashnits E, Sempowski GD, Denny T, Bienzle D, Weese JS, Callahan BJ, Woods CW. Evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 identification methods through surveillance of companion animals in SARS-CoV-2-positive homes in North Carolina, March to December 2020. PeerJ 2023; 11:e16310. [PMID: 37901455 PMCID: PMC10607186 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
We collected oral and/or rectal swabs and serum from dogs and cats living in homes with SARS-CoV-2-PCR-positive persons for SARS-CoV-2 PCR and serology testing. Pre-COVID-19 serum samples from dogs and cats were used as negative controls, and samples were tested in duplicate at different timepoints. Raw ELISA results scrutinized relative to known negative samples suggested that cut-offs for IgG seropositivity may require adjustment relative to previously proposed values, while proposed cut-offs for IgM require more extensive validation. A small number of pet dogs (2/43, 4.7%) and one cat (1/21, 4.8%) were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, and 28.6 and 37.5% of cats and dogs were positive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor E. Gin
- College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth A. Petzold
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Diya M. Uthappa
- Hubert-Yeargan Center for Global Health, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Coralei E. Neighbors
- Hubert-Yeargan Center for Global Health, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Anna R. Borough
- Hubert-Yeargan Center for Global Health, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Craig Gin
- College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States of America
| | - Erin Lashnits
- Department of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States of America
| | - Gregory D. Sempowski
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Thomas Denny
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Dorothee Bienzle
- Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - J. Scott Weese
- Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Benjamin J. Callahan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States of America
| | - Christopher W. Woods
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States of America
- Hubert-Yeargan Center for Global Health, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States of America
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States of America
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12
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Sánchez-Morales L, Sánchez-Vizcaíno JM, Domínguez L, Barroso-Arévalo S. A retrospective study of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in dogs and cats in the Community of Madrid, Spain. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1264172. [PMID: 37869682 PMCID: PMC10585060 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1264172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
To date, susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection in domestic animals including cats and dogs has been described. However, it is important to carry out passive surveillance of these animals to be aware of any changes in the outcomes of the disease in these species that may occur. In this study, we have performed a retrospective study in which we analyzed sera (n = 1,640) from random animals: dogs (n = 1,381) and cats (n = 259) belonging to both homes (n = 1,533) and animal protection centers (n = 107) in the Community of Madrid, Spain. Neutralizing antibodies were evaluated between November 2021 and May 2022 using a surrogate ELISA kit to determine the seroprevalence. Based on the results obtained, a few animals (both cats and dogs) presented neutralizing antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 (2.3%), all of them from private owners. However, the seroprevalence in cats (4.6%) resulted to be almost twice as much as in dogs (1.9%) which reinforces that cats' susceptibility to the infection seems higher than in the case of dogs, maybe due to the lower ACE2 expression of the dogs in the respiratory tract. These findings also confirm that the probability of infection is considerably higher in domestic animals in close contact with infected owners, compared to animals living in animal shelters whose contact with humans is markedly lower.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - José M. Sánchez-Vizcaíno
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lucas Domínguez
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sandra Barroso-Arévalo
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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13
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Jaramillo Hernández DA, Chacón MC, Velásquez MA, Vásquez-Trujillo A, Sánchez AP, Salazar Garces LF, García GL, Velasco-Santamaría YM, Pedraza LN, Lesmes-Rodríguez LC. Seroprevalence of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in domestic dogs and cats and its relationship with COVID-19 cases in the city of Villavicencio, Colombia. F1000Res 2023; 11:1184. [PMID: 37965037 PMCID: PMC10643872 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.125780.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Since the beginning of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak, different animal species have been implicated as possible intermediate hosts that could facilitate the transmission of the virus between species. The detection of these hosts has intensified, reporting wild, zoo, farm, and pet animals. The goal of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulins (IgG) in domestic dogs and cats and its epidemiological association with the frequency of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in Villavicencio, Colombia. Methods: 300 dogs and 135 cats were randomly selected in a two-stage distribution by clusters according to COVID-19 cases (positive RT-qPCR for SARS-CoV-2) within the human population distributed within the eight communes of Villavicencio. Indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique was applied in order to determine anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG in sera samples. Kernel density estimation was used to compare the prevalence of COVID-19 cases with the seropositivity of dogs and cats. Results: The overall seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG was 4.6% (95% CI=3.2-7.4). In canines, 3.67% (95% CI=2.1-6.4) and felines 6.67% (95% CI=3.6-12.18). Kernel density estimation indicated that seropositive cases were concentrated in the southwest region of the city. There was a positive association between SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity in pet animals and their habitat in Commune 2 (adjusted OR=5.84; 95% CI=1.1-30.88). Spearman's correlation coefficients were weakly positive ( p=0.32) between the ratio of COVID-19 cases in November 2020 and the results for domestic dogs and cats from the eight communes of Villavicencio. Conclusions: In the present research cats were more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection than dogs. This study provides the first positive results of anti-SARS-CoV-2 ELISA serological tests in domestic dogs and cats in Colombia with information about the virus transmission dynamics in Latin America during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - María Clara Chacón
- Programa de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Escuela de Ciencias Animales, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Recursos Naturales, Universidad de los Llanos, Villavicencio, Meta, 1745, Colombia
| | - María Alejandra Velásquez
- Programa de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Escuela de Ciencias Animales, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Recursos Naturales, Universidad de los Llanos, Villavicencio, Meta, 1745, Colombia
| | - Adolfo Vásquez-Trujillo
- Escuela de Ciencias Animales, Universidad de los Llanos, Villavicencio, Meta, 1745, Colombia
| | - Ana Patricia Sánchez
- Secretaria de Salud Municipal, Alcaldía de Villavicencio, Villavicencio, Meta, 110221, Colombia
| | - Luis Fabian Salazar Garces
- Research and Development Department (DIDE), Faculty of Health Sciences, Technical University of Ambato, Ambato, Ambato, Av. Colombia and Chile s/n, Ecuador
| | - Gina Lorena García
- Escuela de Ciencias Animales, Universidad de los Llanos, Villavicencio, Meta, 1745, Colombia
| | | | - Luz Natalia Pedraza
- Escuela de Ciencias Animales, Universidad de los Llanos, Villavicencio, Meta, 1745, Colombia
| | - Lida Carolina Lesmes-Rodríguez
- Departamento de Biología & Química, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas e Ingeniería, Universidad de los Llanos, Villavicencio, Meta, 1745, Colombia
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14
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Tan CS, Bandak DB, Habeebur-Rahman SP, Tan LT, Lim LLA. Serosurveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in companion animals in Sarawak, Malaysia. Virol J 2023; 20:176. [PMID: 37550752 PMCID: PMC10408157 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-023-02133-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is a zoonotic betacoronavirus that was first reported at the dawn of 2019 in Wuhan, China and has since spread globally, causing an ongoing pandemic. Anthroponotic transmission was reported early, with confirmed infections reported in 26 species to date, including dogs and cats. However, there is a paucity of reports on the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to companion animals, and thus, we aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in dogs and cats in Sarawak, Malaysia. From August 2022 to 2023, we screened plasma samples of 172 companion animals in Sarawak, Malaysia, using a species-independent surrogate virus neutralization test. Our findings revealed the presence of neutralizing antibodies of SARS-CoV-2 in 24.5% (27/110) of dogs and 24.2% (15/62) of cats. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in companion animals in Malaysia. Our findings emphasize the need for pet owners to distance themselves from their pets when unwell, and a strategy must be in place to monitor SARS-CoV-2 in companion animals to assess the potential impact of the virus on companion animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Siang Tan
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300, Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia.
| | | | | | - Lee Tung Tan
- Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Science, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, 93350, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Li Li Andrea Lim
- Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak, 93250, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
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15
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Ramasamy S, Gontu A, Neerukonda S, Ruggiero D, Morrow B, Gupta S, Amirthalingam S, Hardham JM, Lizer JT, Yon M, Nissly RH, Jakka P, Chothe SK, LaBella LC, Tewari D, Nair MS, Kuchipudi SV. SARS-CoV-2 Prevalence and Variant Surveillance among Cats in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Viruses 2023; 15:1493. [PMID: 37515180 PMCID: PMC10386599 DOI: 10.3390/v15071493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infects many mammals, and SARS-CoV-2 circulation in nonhuman animals may increase the risk of novel variant emergence. Cats are highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, and there were cases of virus transmission between cats and humans. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 variant infection of cats in an urban setting. We investigated the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 variant infections in domestic and community cats in the city of Pittsburgh (n = 272). While no cats tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA, 35 cats (12.86%) tested SARS-CoV-2-antibody-positive. Further, we compared a cat-specific experimental lateral flow assay (eLFA) and species-agnostic surrogate virus neutralization assay (sVNT) for SARS-CoV-2 antibody detection in cats (n = 71). The eLFA demonstrated 100% specificity compared to sVNT. The eLFA also showed 100% sensitivity for sera with >90% inhibition and 63.63% sensitivity for sera with 40-89% inhibition in sVNT. Using a variant-specific pseudovirus neutralization assay (pVNT) and antigen cartography, we found the presence of antibodies to pre-Omicron and Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variants. Hence, this approach proves valuable in identifying cat exposure to different SARS-CoV-2 variants. Our results highlight the continued exposure of cats to SARS-CoV-2 and warrant coordinated surveillance efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santhamani Ramasamy
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Abhinay Gontu
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | | | - Diana Ruggiero
- S.R. Scientific LLC, 5854 Ellsworth Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
| | - Becky Morrow
- S.R. Scientific LLC, 5854 Ellsworth Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
- Frankie's Friends, 740 5th Ave, New Kensington, PA 15068, USA
| | - Sheweta Gupta
- S.R. Scientific LLC, 5854 Ellsworth Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
| | - Saranya Amirthalingam
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | | | | | - Michele Yon
- Animal Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Ruth H Nissly
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Animal Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Padmaja Jakka
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Animal Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Shubhada K Chothe
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Lindsey C LaBella
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Deepanker Tewari
- Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Pennsylvania Veterinary Laboratory, Harrisburg, PA 17110, USA
| | - Meera Surendran Nair
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Animal Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Suresh V Kuchipudi
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Animal Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Huck Institute of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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16
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Michelitsch A, Allendorf V, Conraths FJ, Gethmann J, Schulz J, Wernike K, Denzin N. SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Clinical Signs in Cats and Dogs from Confirmed Positive Households in Germany. Viruses 2023; 15:v15040837. [PMID: 37112817 PMCID: PMC10144952 DOI: 10.3390/v15040837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
On a global scale, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) poses a serious threat to the health of the human population. Not only humans can be infected, but also their companion animals. The antibody status of 115 cats and 170 dogs, originating from 177 German households known to have been SARS-CoV-2 positive, was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the results were combined with information gathered from a questionnaire that was completed by the owner(s) of the animals. The true seroprevalences of SARS-CoV-2 among cats and dogs were 42.5% (95% CI 33.5–51.9) and 56.8% (95% CI 49.1–64.4), respectively. In a multivariable logistic regression accounting for data clustered in households, for cats, the number of infected humans in the household and an above-average contact intensity turned out to be significant risk factors; contact with humans outside the household was a protective factor. For dogs, on the contrary, contact outside the household was a risk factor, and reduced contact, once the human infection was known, was a significant protective factor. No significant association was found between reported clinical signs in animals and their antibody status, and no spatial clustering of positive test results was identified.
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17
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Dunowska M. Cross-species transmission of coronaviruses with a focus on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection in animals: a review for the veterinary practitioner. N Z Vet J 2023:1-13. [PMID: 36927253 DOI: 10.1080/00480169.2023.2191349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
AbstractIn 2019 a novel coronavirus termed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged from an unidentified source and spread rapidly among humans worldwide. While many human infections are mild, some result in severe clinical disease that in a small proportion of infected people is fatal. The pandemic spread of SARS-CoV-2 has been facilitated by efficient human-to-human transmission of the virus, with no data to indicate that animals contributed to this global health crisis. However, a range of domesticated and wild animals are also susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection under both experimental and natural conditions. Humans are presumed to be the source of most animal infections thus far, although natural transmission between mink and between free-ranging deer has occurred, and occasional natural transmission between cats cannot be fully excluded. Considering the ongoing circulation of the virus among people, together with its capacity to evolve through mutation and recombination, the risk of the emergence of animal-adapted variants is not negligible. If such variants remain infectious to humans, this could lead to the establishment of an animal reservoir for the virus, which would complicate control efforts. As such, minimising human-to-animal transmission of SARS-CoV-2 should be considered as part of infection control efforts. The aim of this review is to summarise what is currently known about the species specificity of animal coronaviruses, with an emphasis on SARS-CoV-2, in the broader context of factors that facilitate cross-species transmission of viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Dunowska
- Tāwharau Ora - School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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18
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Low Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Canine and Feline Serum Samples Collected during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Hong Kong and Korea. Viruses 2023; 15:v15020582. [PMID: 36851796 PMCID: PMC9967295 DOI: 10.3390/v15020582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has affected millions of people worldwide since its emergence in 2019. Knowing the potential capacity of the virus to adapt to other species, the serological surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 infection in susceptible animals is important. Hong Kong and Seoul are two of Asia's most densely populated urban cities, where companion animals often live in close contact with humans. Sera collected from 1040 cats and 855 dogs during the early phase of the pandemic in Hong Kong and Seoul were tested for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies using an ELISA that detects antibodies against the receptor binding domain of the viral spike protein. Positive sera were also tested for virus neutralizing antibodies using a surrogate virus neutralization (sVNT) and plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT). Among feline sera, 4.51% and 2.54% of the samples from Korea and Hong Kong, respectively, tested ELISA positive. However, only 1.64% of the samples from Korea and 0.18% from Hong Kong tested positive by sVNT, while only 0.41% of samples from Korea tested positive by PRNT. Among canine samples, 4.94% and 6.46% from Korea and Hong Kong, respectively, tested positive by ELISA, while only 0.29% of sera from Korea were positive on sVNT and no canine sera tested positive by PRNT. These results confirm a low seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 exposure in companion animals in Korea and Hong Kong. The discordance between the RBD-ELISA and neutralization tests may indicate possible ELISA cross-reactivity with other coronaviruses, especially in canine sera.
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19
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Guo R, Wolff C, Prada JM, Mughini-Gras L. When COVID-19 sits on people's laps: A systematic review of SARS-CoV-2 infection prevalence in household dogs and cats. One Health 2023; 16:100497. [PMID: 36778083 PMCID: PMC9896854 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2023.100497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, questions were raised about whether SARS-CoV-2 can infect pets and the potential risks posed to and by their human owners. We performed a systematic review of studies on SARS-CoV-2 infection prevalence in naturally infected household dogs and cats conducted worldwide and published before January 2022. Data on SARS-CoV-2 infection prevalence, as determined by either molecular or serological methods, and accompanying information, were summarized. Screening studies targeting the general dog or cat populations were differentiated from those targeting households with known COVID-19-positive people. Studies focusing on stray, sheltered or working animals were excluded. In total, 17 studies were included in this review. Fourteen studies investigated cats, 13 investigated dogs, and 10 investigated both. Five studies reported molecular prevalence, 16 reported seroprevalence, and four reported both. All but two studies started and ended in 2020. Studies were conducted in eight European countries (Italy, France, Spain, Croatia, Germany, the Netherlands, UK, Poland), three Asian countries (Iran, Japan, China) and the USA. Both molecular and serological prevalence in the general pet population were usually below 5%, but exceeded 10% when COVID-19 positive people were known to be present in the household. A meta-analysis provided pooled seroprevalence estimates in the general pet population: 2.75% (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.56-4.79%) and 0.82% (95% CI: 0.26-2.54%) for cats and dogs, respectively. This review highlighted the need for a better understanding of the possible epizootic implications of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the need for global standards for SARS-CoV-2 detection in pets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruoshui Guo
- Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | | | - Lapo Mughini-Gras
- Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands,National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands,Corresponding author at: National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Centre for Infectious Disease Control (CIb), Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721MA Bilthoven, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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20
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Diezma-Díaz C, Álvarez-García G, Regidor-Cerrillo J, Miró G, Villanueva-Saz S, Dolores Pérez M, Verde MT, Galán-Malo P, Brun A, Moreno S, Checa R, Montoya A, Van Voorhis WC, Ortega-Mora LM. A comparative study of eight serological methods shows that spike protein-based ELISAs are the most accurate tests for serodiagnosing SARS-CoV-2 infections in cats and dogs. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1121935. [PMID: 36777670 PMCID: PMC9909348 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1121935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious zoonotic disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. Monitoring the infection in pets is recommended for human disease surveillance, prevention, and control since the virus can spread from people to animals during close contact. Several diagnostic tests have been adapted from humans to animals, but limited data on the validation process are available. Methods Herein, the first comparative study of six "in house" and two commercial serological tests developed to monitor SARS-CoV-2 infection in pets was performed with a well-coded panel of sera (61 cat sera and 74 dog sera) with a conservative criterion (viral seroneutralisation and/or RT-qPCR results) as a reference. Four "in house" tests based on either the RBD fragment of the spike protein (RBD-S) or the N-terminal fragment of the nucleoprotein (N) were developed for the first time. The analytical specificity (ASp) of those tests that showed the best diagnostic performance was assessed. The validation included the analysis of a panel of sera obtained pre-pandemic from cats and dogs infected with other coronaviruses to determine the analytical Sp (17 cat sera and 41 dog sera). Results and discussion ELISAS based on the S protein are recommended in serosurveillance studies for cats (RBD-S SALUVET ELISA, ELISA COVID UNIZAR and INgezim® COVID 19 S VET) and dogs (INgezim® COVID 19 S VET and RBD-S SALUVET ELISA). These tests showed higher diagnostic sensitivity (Se) and DSp in cats (>90%) than in dogs. When sera obtained prior to the pandemic and from animals infected with other coronaviruses were analyzed by RBD-S and N SALUVET ELISAs and INgezim® COVID 19 S VET, a few cross reactors or no cross reactions were detected when dog and cat sera were analyzed by tests based on the S protein, respectively. In contrast, the number of cross reactions increased when the test was based on the N protein. Thus, the use of tests based on the N protein was discarded for serodiagnosis purposes. The results obtained revealed the most accurate serological tests for each species. Further studies should attempt to improve the diagnostic performance of serological tests developed for dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Diezma-Díaz
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, Madrid, Spain
- SALUVET-Innova S.L., Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Gema Álvarez-García
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Regidor-Cerrillo
- SALUVET-Innova S.L., Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Guadalupe Miró
- PetParasiteLab, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sergio Villanueva-Saz
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón (IA2), Zaragoza University and Agro-food Research and Technology Centre of Aragon, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - María Dolores Pérez
- Food Technology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, AgriFood Institute of Aragón (IA2) Zaragoza University and Agro-food Research and Technology Centre of Aragon, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - María Teresa Verde
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón (IA2), Zaragoza University and Agro-food Research and Technology Centre of Aragon, Zaragoza, Spain
| | | | - Alejandro Brun
- Animal Health Research Centre, Spanish National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology/Spanish National Research Council (INIA/CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Sandra Moreno
- Animal Health Research Centre, Spanish National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology/Spanish National Research Council (INIA/CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Rocío Checa
- PetParasiteLab, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Montoya
- PetParasiteLab, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, Madrid, Spain
| | - Wesley C. Van Voorhis
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Luis Miguel Ortega-Mora
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, Madrid, Spain
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21
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Liew AY, Carpenter A, Moore TA, Wallace RM, Hamer SA, Hamer GL, Fischer RSB, Zecca IB, Davila E, Auckland LD, Rooney JA, Killian ML, Tell RM, Rekant SI, Burrell SD, Ghai RR, Behravesh CB. Clinical and epidemiologic features of SARS-CoV-2 in dogs and cats compiled through national surveillance in the United States. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2023; 261:480-489. [PMID: 36595371 PMCID: PMC10038921 DOI: 10.2460/javma.22.08.0375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To characterize clinical and epidemiologic features of SARS-CoV-2 in companion animals detected through both passive and active surveillance in the US. ANIMALS 204 companion animals (109 cats, 95 dogs) across 33 states with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections between March 2020 and December 2021. PROCEDURES Public health officials, animal health officials, and academic researchers investigating zoonotic SARS-CoV-2 transmission events reported clinical, laboratory, and epidemiologic information through a standardized One Health surveillance process developed by the CDC and partners. RESULTS Among dogs and cats identified through passive surveillance, 94% (n = 87) had reported exposure to a person with COVID-19 before infection. Clinical signs of illness were present in 74% of pets identified through passive surveillance and 27% of pets identified through active surveillance. Duration of illness in pets averaged 15 days in cats and 12 days in dogs. The average time between human and pet onset of illness was 10 days. Viral nucleic acid was first detected at 3 days after exposure in both cats and dogs. Antibodies were detected starting 5 days after exposure, and titers were highest at 9 days in cats and 14 days in dogs. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results of the present study supported that cats and dogs primarily become infected with SARS-CoV-2 following exposure to a person with COVID-19, most often their owners. Case investigation and surveillance that include both people and animals are necessary to understand transmission dynamics and viral evolution of zoonotic diseases like SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Sarah A Hamer
- 2Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
| | - Gabriel L Hamer
- 3Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
| | | | - Italo B Zecca
- 1CDC, Atlanta, GA
- 2Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
| | - Edward Davila
- 2Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
| | - Lisa D Auckland
- 2Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
| | | | - Mary Lea Killian
- 6National Veterinary Services Laboratories, APHIS, USDA, Ames, IA
| | - Rachel M Tell
- 6National Veterinary Services Laboratories, APHIS, USDA, Ames, IA
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22
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Jarrah SA, Kmetiuk LB, Valleriani F, Bonfini B, Lorusso A, Vasinioti V, Decaro N, Dos Santos MT, Spohr KAH, Pratelli A, Serroni A, Capista S, Sousa VRF, Biondo AW, Nakazato L, Dutra V. SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in dogs and cats in a highly infected area of Brazil during the pandemic. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1111728. [PMID: 36908526 PMCID: PMC9995883 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1111728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 was a worldwide threat during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the state of Mato Grosso had the second highest mortality rate in Brazil, with 427. 4 deaths/100,000 inhabitants. However, no large-scale study among dogs and cats in such highly infected areas of Brazil has so far been conducted. Accordingly, the present study reports on a serosurvey among dogs and cats in Cuiabá, capital of Mato Grosso from November 2020 to July 2021, where the human mortality rate was 605/100,000 at that time. Overall, 33/762 dogs (4.3%) and 4/182 cats (2.2%) were found to be seropositive for SARS-CoV-2 through ELISA, and 3/762 dogs (0.4%) and 3/182 cats (1.6%) were seropositive through the serum neutralization test. Cats presented higher seroprevalence with higher titers of neutralizing antibodies. Although N-protein based ELISA may be a good screening test, cross-reactivity with other canine coronaviruses may impair its diagnostic use among dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samar Afif Jarrah
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT, Brazil
| | - Louise Bach Kmetiuk
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Fabrizia Valleriani
- Department of Virology, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale", Teramo, TE, Italy
| | - Barbara Bonfini
- Department of Virology, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale", Teramo, TE, Italy
| | - Alessio Lorusso
- Department of Virology, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale", Teramo, TE, Italy
| | - Violetta Vasinioti
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Valenzano, BA, Italy
| | - Nicola Decaro
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Valenzano, BA, Italy
| | | | | | - Annamaria Pratelli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Valenzano, BA, Italy
| | - Anna Serroni
- Department of Virology, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale", Teramo, TE, Italy
| | - Sara Capista
- Department of Virology, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale", Teramo, TE, Italy
| | | | | | - Luciano Nakazato
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT, Brazil
| | - Valéria Dutra
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT, Brazil
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23
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A one-year extensive molecular survey on SARS-CoV-2 in companion animals of Turkey shows a lack of evidence for viral circulation in pet dogs and cats. Vet Anim Sci 2022; 19:100280. [PMID: 36582670 PMCID: PMC9792910 DOI: 10.1016/j.vas.2022.100280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Current evidence have now demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 infects a wide array of mammalian animals; however, the full range of hosts and the viral circulation in companion animals remains to be clarified. In this context, as no such evidenced cases have been reported from Turkey, we aimed to screen for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid in housed dogs and cats clinically evaluated for respiratory symptoms and reared in different locations of Samsun province in the black sea region of Turkey from July 2020 to July 2021. Nasal swabs were collected from a total of 415 pets (65 cats and 350 dogs) aged between 1 and 9 years old. All the specimens were tested for SARS-CoV-2 RNA presence by real-time RT-PCR targeting two genomic regions of SARS-CoV-2, but none showed positive results. Our findings suggest that SARS-CoV-2 does not circulate in local pets and is not responsible for respiratory symptoms. However, further comprehensive molecular and serological surveys are required to have a better picture of the zoonotic, reverse zoonotic and pathogenic consequences of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey.
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24
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Akhtardanesh B, Jajarmi M, Shojaee M, Salajegheh Tazerji S, Khalili Mahani M, Hajipour P, Gharieb R. Molecular screening of SARS-CoV-2 in dogs and cats from households with infected owners diagnosed with COVID-19 during Delta and Omicron variant waves in Iran. Vet Med Sci 2022; 9:82-90. [PMID: 36495219 PMCID: PMC9856975 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.1036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in dogs and cats in different countries worldwide raises concerns that pets are at a higher risk for spreading or transmitting of SARS-CoV-2 to humans and other pets and increased the research works about the zoonotic aspects and natural routes of infection in companion animals. The current study aimed to detect the SARS-CoV-2 in household dogs and cats living with COVID-19 positive owners. METHODS Deep oropharyngeal and rectal swabs were collected from 30 household pets (20 cats and 10 dogs) living with COVID-19 positive owners from April 2021 to 2022 in Kerman, Iran. All dogs' and cats' samples were tested by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for detection of SARS-CoV-2. RESULTS Two household cats out of 20 examined (10%) were positive for SARS-CoV-2, whereas none of the examined dogs were positive for SARS-CoV-2. The two cats positive for SARS-CoV-2 were symptomatic and suffered from severe anorexia with maximum contact with their infected owners. CONCLUSION This study reported the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in household cats in close contact with COVID-19 positive owners during the circulation of new SARS-CoV-2 variants (Delta and Omicron) in Iran and suggested that the transmission may have occurred from owners to their cats. Therefore, infected owners should eagerly limit close contact with their pets during COVID-19 illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baharak Akhtardanesh
- Department of Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary MedicineShahid Bahonar UniversityKermanIran
| | - Maziar Jajarmi
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary MedicineShahid Bahonar UniversityKermanIran
| | | | - Sina Salajegheh Tazerji
- Department of Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Science and Research BranchIslamic Azad UniversityTehranIran,Young Researchers and Elites Club, Science and Research BranchIslamic Azad UniversityTehranIran
| | - Maziar Khalili Mahani
- Department of Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary MedicineShahid Bahonar UniversityKermanIran
| | - Pouneh Hajipour
- Department of Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary MedicineShahid Bahonar UniversityKermanIran
| | - Rasha Gharieb
- Department of Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary MedicineZagazig UniversityZagazig44511Egypt
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25
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Murphy H, Ly H. The potential risks posed by inter- and intraspecies transmissions of monkeypox virus. Virulence 2022; 13:1681-1683. [PMID: 36152027 PMCID: PMC9518996 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2022.2127199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Murphy
- Department of Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA
| | - Hinh Ly
- Department of Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA,
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26
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Panei CJ, Bravi ME, Moré G, De Felice L, Unzaga JM, Salina M, Rivero FD, Di Lullo D, Pecoraro M, Alvarez D, Castro E, Fuentealba NA. Serological evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pets naturally exposed during the COVID-19 outbreak in Argentina. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2022; 254:110519. [PMID: 36434944 PMCID: PMC9664835 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2022.110519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the etiological agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has rapidly spread worldwide. The monitoring of animals has shown that certain species may be susceptible to be infected with the virus. The present study aimed to evaluate the presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies by ELISA and virus neutralization (VN) in pets from owners previously confirmed as COVID-19-positive in Argentina. Serum samples of 38 pets (seven cats and 31 dogs) were obtained for SARS-CoV-2 antibody detection. Three out of the seven cats and 14 out of the 31 dogs were positive for SARS-CoV-2 by ELISA, and one cat and six dogs showed the presence of neutralizing antibodies in which the cat and two of the six dogs showed high titers. Another dog from which three serum samples had been obtained within eight months from the diagnosis of its owner showed the presence of antibodies at different times by both ELISA and VN. However, the results showed that the antibodies decreased slightly from the first to the third sample. Our results provide evidence that SARS-CoV-2 infection in pets living with COVID-19-positive humans from Argentina during the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 can be detected by serology assay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Javier Panei
- Laboratorio de Virología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias (FCV), Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), 60 & 118, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290 (C1425FQB) Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Emilia Bravi
- Laboratorio de Virología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias (FCV), Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), 60 & 118, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290 (C1425FQB) Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gastón Moré
- Laboratorio de Inmunoparasitología, FCV-UNLP, 60 & 118, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290 (C1425FQB) Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lorena De Felice
- Laboratorio de Inmunoparasitología, FCV-UNLP, 60 & 118, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Juan Manuel Unzaga
- Laboratorio de Inmunoparasitología, FCV-UNLP, 60 & 118, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Marcos Salina
- Laboratorio de Virología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias (FCV), Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), 60 & 118, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Fernando David Rivero
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Salud, Tecnología y Desarrollo (IMSaTeD), CONICET-UNSE, Villa El Zanjón, Ruta Nacional Nº 9, Km 1125, 4206, Santiago del Estero, Argentina
| | - David Di Lullo
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Salud, Tecnología y Desarrollo (IMSaTeD), CONICET-UNSE, Villa El Zanjón, Ruta Nacional Nº 9, Km 1125, 4206, Santiago del Estero, Argentina
| | - Marcelo Pecoraro
- Laboratorio de Virología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias (FCV), Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), 60 & 118, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Diego Alvarez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) - CONICET, Av. 25 de Mayo y Francia (B1650HMR), Buenos Aires, Argentina,Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnologías (EByN), UNSAM, Av. 25 de Mayo y Francia (B1650HMR), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Eliana Castro
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) - CONICET, Av. 25 de Mayo y Francia (B1650HMR), Buenos Aires, Argentina,Instituto de Virología e Innovaciones Tecnológicas (IVIT), Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas (CICVyA), Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA) - CONICET, Argentina
| | - Nadia Analía Fuentealba
- Laboratorio de Virología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias (FCV), Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), 60 & 118, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290 (C1425FQB) Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina,Corresponding author at: Laboratorio de Virología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias (FCV), Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), 60 & 118, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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27
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Stanojevic S, Radojicic S, Misic D, Srejić D, Vasiljevic DV, Prokic K, Ilić N. Frequency of SARS-CoV-2 infection in dogs and cats: Results of a retrospective serological survey in Šumadija District, Serbia. Prev Vet Med 2022; 208:105755. [PMID: 36126551 PMCID: PMC9467926 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2022.105755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
It has long been known that coronaviruses cause various infectious diseases in animals. Although SARS-CoV-2 is genetically related to viruses isolated from Rhinolophus bats, the exact origin, mode of transmission, and how the human species has become the epidemiological reservoir of the virus have not yet been established with certainty. Although the main route of transmission is human-to-human, there are considerable numbers of reported cases of infection in animal species, predominantly among pet animals. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity in dogs and cats during the COVID-19 pandemic in Šumadija District, Serbia. We used serology to identify household contacts of pet animals with infected pet owners and the degree of association. The study presented in this paper is also the first study of this type in Serbia. The results of a retrospective serosurvey, which was conducted in dogs and cats with different exposure risk factors, were analyzed to find the possible modes of transmission between humans and animals. The relative frequency of SARS-CoV-2 infection in dogs was 1.45% bounded with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.0007-7.73%, while in cats, it was 5.56% (95% CI: 0.77-4.13%). The relative frequency of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pet owners was 11% (95% CI: 6.25-18.63%). In pets that were in close contact with COVID-19 positive owners, the seropositivity was found to be 9%. Out of a total of five stray dogs and cats tested, seropositivity was observed in two animals. Detected SARS-CoV-2 infection in pets shows that these animals are susceptible to infection and that the most common means of virus transmission to pets is through contact with diseased owners. However, the presence of infection in stray dogs and cats is not clear and needs further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Slavoljub Stanojevic
- Directorate of National Reference Laboratories, Batajnicki Drum 10, 11080 Zemun, Serbia,Corresponding author
| | - Sonja Radojicic
- University of Belgrade, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Infectious Animal Diseases and Diseases of Bees, Bulevar Oslobođenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Dusan Misic
- Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Department of Functional Foods Development, Chelmonskiego Street, 37,51-630 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Damjan Srejić
- KragujVet Veterinary Clinic, Luja Pastera 2, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Dragan V. Vasiljevic
- University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Svetozara Markovica 69, Kragujevac, Serbia,Public Health Institute Kragujevac, Center for Hygiene and Human Ecology, Nikole Pasica 1, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Kristina Prokic
- Public Health Institute Kragujevac, Center for Hygiene and Human Ecology, Nikole Pasica 1, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Nevenka Ilić
- Public Health Institute Kragujevac, Center for Hygiene and Human Ecology, Nikole Pasica 1, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
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Ratti G, Lelli D, Moreno A, Stranieri A, Trogu T, Giordano A, Grassi A, Luzzago C, Decaro N, Paltrinieri S, Lauzi S. Comparison of diagnostic performances of different serological tests for SARS-CoV-2 antibody detection in cats and dogs. Transbound Emerg Dis 2022; 69:3530-3539. [PMID: 36183165 PMCID: PMC9538080 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Serosurveillance among animals, including pets, plays an important role in the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, because severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections in animal populations could result in the establishment of new virus reservoirs. Serological assays that offer the required sensitivity and specificity are essential. In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic performance of three different commercially available immunoassays for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in pets, namely two ELISA tests for the detection of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid [ID Screen SARS CoV-2 double antigen multispecies (Double antigen) and ID Screen® SARS-CoV-2-N IgG indirect ELISA (Indirect)] and one test for the detection of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding-domain [surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT)]. The obtained results were compared with those of conventional virus neutralization test (VNT), which was regarded as reference method. A total of 191 serum samples were analysed. Thirteen (6.8%) samples showed VNT-positive results. The overall sensitivity was higher for sVNT (100%) compared to nucleocapsid-based ELISA assays (23% for Double antigen and 60% for Indirect). The specificity was 100% for Indirect ELISA and sVNT, when a higher cut-off (>30%) was used compared to the one previously defined by the manufacturer (>20%), whereas the other test showed lower value (99%). The sVNT test showed the highest accuracy and agreement with VNT, with a perfect agreement when the higher cut-off was applied. The agreement between each nucleocapsid-based ELISA test and VNT was 96% for Indirect and 94% for Double antigen. Our findings showed that some commercially available serological tests may lead to a high rate of false-negative results, highlighting the importance of assays validation for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in domestic animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Ratti
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal SciencesUniversity of MilanLodiItaly
| | - Davide Lelli
- Department of VirologyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia‐RomagnaBresciaItaly
| | - Ana Moreno
- Department of VirologyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia‐RomagnaBresciaItaly
| | - Angelica Stranieri
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal SciencesUniversity of MilanLodiItaly
| | - Tiziana Trogu
- Department of VirologyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia‐RomagnaBresciaItaly
| | - Alessia Giordano
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal SciencesUniversity of MilanLodiItaly
| | - Andrea Grassi
- I‐VET srl, Laboratorio di Analisi VeterinarieFleroBresciaItaly
| | - Camilla Luzzago
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal SciencesUniversity of MilanLodiItaly
| | - Nicola Decaro
- Department of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of Bari Aldo MoroValenzanoBariItaly
| | - Saverio Paltrinieri
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal SciencesUniversity of MilanLodiItaly
| | - Stefania Lauzi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal SciencesUniversity of MilanLodiItaly
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High Seroprevalence against SARS-CoV-2 among Dogs and Cats, Poland, 2021/2022. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12162016. [PMID: 36009608 PMCID: PMC9404425 DOI: 10.3390/ani12162016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is responsible for a pandemic in the human population that has unfolded since the beginning of 2020 and has led to millions of deaths globally. Apart from humans, SARS-CoV-2 has been confirmed in various animal species, including felines, canines, mustelids, and primates. Of these species, dogs and cats are the most popular companion animals worldwide. Several seroprevalence studies have already been performed in these animal species; however, the results vary depending on the location and especially the time of sampling. Here, serum samples were collected from a total of 388 dogs and 243 cats from three veterinary clinics in two cities (Gdańsk and Olsztyn) in Poland between October 2021 and February 2022, when the country was in the midst of the fourth wave of viral spread. All sera were tested for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 by a multispecies ELISA based on the receptor-binding domain and by an indirect immunofluorescence assay (iIFA). Overall, 18.9% of the feline sera and 16.0% of the canine sera tested positive using ELISA and iIFA. This relatively high seroprevalence among randomly selected animals is most likely related to the high case numbers in the human population and indicates a continuous occurrence of transspecies virus transmissions from infected owners to their pets. Hence, dogs and cats should be included in monitoring studies and/or outbreak investigations for a better understanding of the epidemiology of this virus.
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Li H, Hong X, Ding L, Meng S, Liao R, Jiang Z, Liu D. Sequence similarity of SARS-CoV-2 and humans: Implications for SARS-CoV-2 detection. Front Genet 2022; 13:946359. [PMID: 35937998 PMCID: PMC9355506 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.946359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Detecting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) needs human samples, which inevitably contain trace human DNA and RNA. Sequence similarity may cause invalid detection results; however, there is still a lack of gene similarity analysis of SARS-CoV-2 and humans. All publicly reported complete genome assemblies in the Entrez genome database were collected for multiple sequence alignment, similarity and phylogenetic analysis. The complete genomes showed high similarity (>99.88% sequence identity). Phylogenetic analysis divided these viruses into three major clades with significant geographic group effects. Viruses from the United States showed considerable variability. Sequence similarity analysis revealed that SARS-CoV-2 has 612 similar sequences with the human genome and 100 similar sequences with the human transcriptome. The sequence characteristics and genome distribution of these similar sequences were confirmed. The sequence similarity and evolutionary mutations provide indispensable references for dynamic updates of SARS-CoV-2 detection primers and methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng Li
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, The Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
- Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine Postdoctoral Research Station, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoping Hong
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, The Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Liping Ding
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, The Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shuhui Meng
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, The Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Rui Liao
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, The Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhenyou Jiang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Zhenyou Jiang, ; Dongzhou Liu,
| | - Dongzhou Liu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, The Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
- *Correspondence: Zhenyou Jiang, ; Dongzhou Liu,
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31
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Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Client-Owned Cats from Portugal. Vet Sci 2022; 9:vetsci9070363. [PMID: 35878380 PMCID: PMC9315516 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9070363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The close contact between humans and domestic cats raises concerns about the potential risks of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Thus, this study aims to investigate anti-SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in client-owned cats from Portugal and evaluate the infection risk of cats that maintain contact with human COVID-19 cases. A total of 176 cats, belonging to 94 households, were sampled. Cat owners answered an online questionnaire, and cats were screened for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 using a commercial ELISA. Twenty (21.3%) households reported at least one confirmed human COVID-19 case. Forty cats (22.7%) belonged to a COVID-19-positive and 136 (77.3%) to a COVID-19-negative household. The seroprevalences of cats from COVID-19-positive and -negative households were 5.0% (2/40) and 0.7% (1/136). The two SARS-CoV-2-seropositive cats from COVID-19-positive households had an indoor lifestyle, and their owners stated that they maintained a close and frequent contact with them, even after being diagnosed with COVID-19, pointing towards human-to-cat transmission. The SARS-CoV-2-seropositive cat from the COVID-19-negative household had a mixed indoor/outdoor lifestyle and chronic diseases. Owners of the three SARS-CoV-2-seropositive cats did not notice clinical signs or behavior changes. This study highlights the low risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from COVID-19-positive human household members to domestic cats, even in a context of close and frequent human–animal contact.
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32
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Fan C, Wu Y, Rui X, Yang Y, Ling C, Liu S, Liu S, Wang Y. Animal models for COVID-19: advances, gaps and perspectives. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:220. [PMID: 35798699 PMCID: PMC9261903 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-01087-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, is the most consequential pandemic of this century. Since the outbreak in late 2019, animal models have been playing crucial roles in aiding the rapid development of vaccines/drugs for prevention and therapy, as well as understanding the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 infection and immune responses of hosts. However, the current animal models have some deficits and there is an urgent need for novel models to evaluate the virulence of variants of concerns (VOC), antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE), and various comorbidities of COVID-19. This review summarizes the clinical features of COVID-19 in different populations, and the characteristics of the major animal models of SARS-CoV-2, including those naturally susceptible animals, such as non-human primates, Syrian hamster, ferret, minks, poultry, livestock, and mouse models sensitized by genetically modified, AAV/adenoviral transduced, mouse-adapted strain of SARS-CoV-2, and by engraftment of human tissues or cells. Since understanding the host receptors and proteases is essential for designing advanced genetically modified animal models, successful studies on receptors and proteases are also reviewed. Several improved alternatives for future mouse models are proposed, including the reselection of alternative receptor genes or multiple gene combinations, the use of transgenic or knock-in method, and different strains for establishing the next generation of genetically modified mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changfa Fan
- Division of Animal Model Research, Institute for Laboratory Animal Resources, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC), National Rodent Laboratory Animal Resources Center, Beijing, 102629, China
| | - Yong Wu
- Division of Animal Model Research, Institute for Laboratory Animal Resources, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC), National Rodent Laboratory Animal Resources Center, Beijing, 102629, China
| | - Xiong Rui
- Division of Animal Model Research, Institute for Laboratory Animal Resources, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC), National Rodent Laboratory Animal Resources Center, Beijing, 102629, China
- Department of Microbiology & Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yuansong Yang
- Division of Animal Model Research, Institute for Laboratory Animal Resources, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC), National Rodent Laboratory Animal Resources Center, Beijing, 102629, China
| | - Chen Ling
- Division of Animal Model Research, Institute for Laboratory Animal Resources, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC), National Rodent Laboratory Animal Resources Center, Beijing, 102629, China
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest University; Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Shaanxi Province, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
| | - Susu Liu
- Division of Animal Model Research, Institute for Laboratory Animal Resources, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC), National Rodent Laboratory Animal Resources Center, Beijing, 102629, China
| | - Shunan Liu
- Division of Animal Model Research, Institute for Laboratory Animal Resources, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC), National Rodent Laboratory Animal Resources Center, Beijing, 102629, China
| | - Youchun Wang
- Division of HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Virus Vaccines, Institute for Biological Product Control, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC), Beijing, China.
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33
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Murphy H, Sanchez S, Ahmed S, Rhaman MM, Di D, Dileepan M, Heinrich D, Liang Y, Ly H. SARS-CoV-2 in companion animals: Do levels of SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion in pets correlate with those of pet's owners and with protection against subsequent SARS-CoV-2 infection? Virulence 2022; 13:1216-1220. [PMID: 35799426 PMCID: PMC9345533 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2022.2098922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Da Di
- Department of Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences
| | | | - Daniel Heinrich
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, USA
| | | | - Hinh Ly
- Department of Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences
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34
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Li Z, Wang A, Zhou J, Chen Y, Liu H, Liu Y, Zhang Y, Ding P, Zhu X, Liang C, Qi Y, Liu E, Zhang G. A Universal Fluorescent Immunochromatography Assay Based on Quantum Dot Nanoparticles for the Rapid Detection of Specific Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Protein. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23116225. [PMID: 35682904 PMCID: PMC9180975 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23116225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the pathogenic agent leading to COVID-19. Due to high speed of transmission and mutation rates, universal diagnosis and appropriate prevention are still urgently needed. The nucleocapsid protein of SARS-CoV-2 is considered more conserved than spike proteins and is abundant during the virus’ life cycle, making it suitable for diagnostic applications. Here, we designed and developed a fluorescent immunochromatography assay (FICA) for the rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies using ZnCdSe/ZnS QDs-conjugated nucleocapsid (N) proteins as probes. The nucleocapsid protein was expressed in E.coli and purified via Ni-NTA affinity chromatography with considerable concentration (0.762 mg/mL) and a purity of more than 90%, which could bind to specific antibodies and the complex could be captured by Staphylococcal protein A (SPA) with fluorescence displayed. After the optimization of coupling and detecting conditions, the limit of detection was determined to be 1:1.024 × 105 with an IgG concentration of 48.84 ng/mL with good specificity shown to antibodies against other zoonotic coronaviruses and respiratory infection-related viruses (n = 5). The universal fluorescent immunochromatography assay simplified operation processes in one step, which could be used for the point of care detection of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies. Moreover, it was also considered as an efficient tool for the serological screening of potential susceptible animals and for monitoring the expansion of virus host ranges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zehui Li
- School of Life Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (Z.L.); (A.W.); (J.Z.); (Y.C.); (H.L.); (Y.L.); (Y.Z.); (P.D.); (X.Z.); (C.L.); (Y.Q.); (E.L.)
| | - Aiping Wang
- School of Life Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (Z.L.); (A.W.); (J.Z.); (Y.C.); (H.L.); (Y.L.); (Y.Z.); (P.D.); (X.Z.); (C.L.); (Y.Q.); (E.L.)
| | - Jingming Zhou
- School of Life Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (Z.L.); (A.W.); (J.Z.); (Y.C.); (H.L.); (Y.L.); (Y.Z.); (P.D.); (X.Z.); (C.L.); (Y.Q.); (E.L.)
| | - Yumei Chen
- School of Life Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (Z.L.); (A.W.); (J.Z.); (Y.C.); (H.L.); (Y.L.); (Y.Z.); (P.D.); (X.Z.); (C.L.); (Y.Q.); (E.L.)
| | - Hongliang Liu
- School of Life Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (Z.L.); (A.W.); (J.Z.); (Y.C.); (H.L.); (Y.L.); (Y.Z.); (P.D.); (X.Z.); (C.L.); (Y.Q.); (E.L.)
| | - Yankai Liu
- School of Life Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (Z.L.); (A.W.); (J.Z.); (Y.C.); (H.L.); (Y.L.); (Y.Z.); (P.D.); (X.Z.); (C.L.); (Y.Q.); (E.L.)
| | - Ying Zhang
- School of Life Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (Z.L.); (A.W.); (J.Z.); (Y.C.); (H.L.); (Y.L.); (Y.Z.); (P.D.); (X.Z.); (C.L.); (Y.Q.); (E.L.)
| | - Peiyang Ding
- School of Life Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (Z.L.); (A.W.); (J.Z.); (Y.C.); (H.L.); (Y.L.); (Y.Z.); (P.D.); (X.Z.); (C.L.); (Y.Q.); (E.L.)
| | - Xifang Zhu
- School of Life Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (Z.L.); (A.W.); (J.Z.); (Y.C.); (H.L.); (Y.L.); (Y.Z.); (P.D.); (X.Z.); (C.L.); (Y.Q.); (E.L.)
| | - Chao Liang
- School of Life Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (Z.L.); (A.W.); (J.Z.); (Y.C.); (H.L.); (Y.L.); (Y.Z.); (P.D.); (X.Z.); (C.L.); (Y.Q.); (E.L.)
| | - Yanhua Qi
- School of Life Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (Z.L.); (A.W.); (J.Z.); (Y.C.); (H.L.); (Y.L.); (Y.Z.); (P.D.); (X.Z.); (C.L.); (Y.Q.); (E.L.)
| | - Enping Liu
- School of Life Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (Z.L.); (A.W.); (J.Z.); (Y.C.); (H.L.); (Y.L.); (Y.Z.); (P.D.); (X.Z.); (C.L.); (Y.Q.); (E.L.)
| | - Gaiping Zhang
- School of Life Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (Z.L.); (A.W.); (J.Z.); (Y.C.); (H.L.); (Y.L.); (Y.Z.); (P.D.); (X.Z.); (C.L.); (Y.Q.); (E.L.)
- School of Advanced Agriculture Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Longhu Laboratory of Advanced Immunology, Zhengzhou 450000, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-371-6355-0369
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35
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COVID-19: A Veterinary and One Health Perspective. J Indian Inst Sci 2022; 102:689-709. [PMID: 35968231 PMCID: PMC9364302 DOI: 10.1007/s41745-022-00318-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 10/30/2022]
Abstract
Interface with animals has been responsible for the occurrence of a major proportion of human diseases for the past several decades. Recent outbreaks of respiratory, haemorrhagic, encephalitic, arthropod-borne and other viral diseases have underlined the role of animals in the transmission of pathogens to humans. The on-going coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is one among them and is thought to have originated from bats and jumped to humans through an intermediate animal host. Indeed, the aetiology, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), can infect and cause disease in cats, ferrets and minks, as well as be transmitted from one animal to another. The seriousness of the pandemic along with the zoonotic origin of the virus has been a red alert on the critical need for collaboration and cooperation among human and animal health professionals, as well as stakeholders from various other disciplines that study planetary health parameters and the well-being of the biosphere. It is therefore imminent that One Health principles are applied across the board for human infectious diseases so that we can be better prepared for future zoonotic disease outbreaks and pandemics.
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Palombieri A, Di Profio F, Fruci P, Sarchese V, Martella V, Marsilio F, Di Martino B. Emerging Respiratory Viruses of Cats. Viruses 2022; 14:v14040663. [PMID: 35458393 PMCID: PMC9030917 DOI: 10.3390/v14040663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Revised: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, advances in diagnostics and deep sequencing technologies have led to the identification and characterization of novel viruses in cats as protoparviruses and chaphamaparvoviruses, unveiling the diversity of the feline virome in the respiratory tract. Observational, epidemiological and experimental data are necessary to demonstrate firmly if some viruses are able to cause disease, as this information may be confounded by virus- or host-related factors. Also, in recent years, researchers were able to monitor multiple examples of transmission to felids of viruses with high pathogenic potential, such as the influenza virus strains H5N1, H1N1, H7N2, H5N6 and H3N2, and in the late 2019, the human hypervirulent coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. These findings suggest that the study of viral infections always requires a multi-disciplinary approach inspired by the One Health vision. By reviewing the literature, we provide herewith an update on the emerging viruses identified in cats and their potential association with respiratory disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Palombieri
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (A.P.); (F.D.P.); (P.F.); (V.S.); (B.D.M.)
| | - Federica Di Profio
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (A.P.); (F.D.P.); (P.F.); (V.S.); (B.D.M.)
| | - Paola Fruci
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (A.P.); (F.D.P.); (P.F.); (V.S.); (B.D.M.)
| | - Vittorio Sarchese
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (A.P.); (F.D.P.); (P.F.); (V.S.); (B.D.M.)
| | - Vito Martella
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010 Valenzano, Italy;
| | - Fulvio Marsilio
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (A.P.); (F.D.P.); (P.F.); (V.S.); (B.D.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0861-26-6871
| | - Barbara Di Martino
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (A.P.); (F.D.P.); (P.F.); (V.S.); (B.D.M.)
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37
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Tabynov K, Orynbassar M, Yelchibayeva L, Turebekov N, Yerubayev T, Matikhan N, Yespolov T, Petrovsky N, Tabynov K. A Spike Protein-Based Subunit SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine for Pets: Safety, Immunogenicity, and Protective Efficacy in Juvenile Cats. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:815978. [PMID: 35372556 PMCID: PMC8967242 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.815978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Whereas, multiple vaccine types have been developed to curb the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) among humans, there are very few vaccines being developed for animals including pets. To combat the threat of human-to-animal, animal-to-animal, and animal-to-human transmission and the generation of new virus variants, we developed a subunit SARS-CoV-2 vaccine which is based on the recombinant spike protein extracellular domain expressed in insect cells and then formulated with appropriate adjuvants. Sixteen 8–12-week-old outbred female and male kittens (n = 4 per group) were randomly assigned into four treatment groups: spike protein alone; spike plus ESSAI oil-in-water (O/W) 1849102 adjuvant; spike plus aluminum hydroxide adjuvant; and a PBS control. All animals were vaccinated intramuscularly twice, 2 weeks apart, with 5 μg of spike protein in a volume of 0.5 ml. On days 0 and 28, serum samples were collected to evaluate anti-spike IgG, antibody inhibition of spike binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2), neutralizing antibodies against wild-type and delta variant viruses, and hematology studies. At day 28, all groups were challenged with SARS-CoV-2 wild-type virus 106 TCID50 intranasally. On day 31, tissue samples (lung, heart, and nasal turbinates) were collected for viral RNA detection, and virus titration. After two immunizations, both vaccines induced high titers of serum anti-spike IgG that inhibited spike ACE-2 binding and neutralized both wild-type and delta variant virus. Both adjuvanted vaccine formulations protected juvenile cats against virus shedding from the upper respiratory tract and viral replication in the lower respiratory tract and hearts. These promising data warrant ongoing evaluation of the vaccine's ability to protect cats against SARS-CoV-2 infection and in particular to prevent transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kairat Tabynov
- International Center for Vaccinology, Kazakh National Agrarian Research University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
- Preclinical Research Laboratory With Vivarium, M. Aikimbayev National Research Center for Especially Dangerous Infections (NSCEDI), Almaty, Kazakhstan
- T&TvaX LLC, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Madiana Orynbassar
- International Center for Vaccinology, Kazakh National Agrarian Research University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Leila Yelchibayeva
- International Center for Vaccinology, Kazakh National Agrarian Research University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Nurkeldi Turebekov
- Central Reference Laboratory, M. Aikimbayev National Scientific Center for Especially Dangerous Infections (NSCEDI), Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Toktassyn Yerubayev
- Central Reference Laboratory, M. Aikimbayev National Scientific Center for Especially Dangerous Infections (NSCEDI), Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Nurali Matikhan
- International Center for Vaccinology, Kazakh National Agrarian Research University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Tlektes Yespolov
- International Center for Vaccinology, Kazakh National Agrarian Research University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Nikolai Petrovsky
- Vaxine Pty Ltd., Adelaide, SA, Australia
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Kaissar Tabynov
- International Center for Vaccinology, Kazakh National Agrarian Research University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
- Preclinical Research Laboratory With Vivarium, M. Aikimbayev National Research Center for Especially Dangerous Infections (NSCEDI), Almaty, Kazakhstan
- T&TvaX LLC, Almaty, Kazakhstan
- *Correspondence: Kaissar Tabynov ;
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Yen HL, Sit THC, Brackman CJ, Chuk SSY, Gu H, Tam KWS, Law PYT, Leung GM, Peiris M, Poon LLM. Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 delta variant (AY.127) from pet hamsters to humans, leading to onward human-to-human transmission: a case study. Lancet 2022; 399:1070-1078. [PMID: 35279259 PMCID: PMC8912929 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(22)00326-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from humans to other mammals, including pet animals, has been reported. However, with the exception of farmed mink, there is no previous evidence that these infected animals can infect humans, resulting in sustained human-to-human transmission. Following a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection of a pet shop worker, animals in the shop and the warehouse supplying it were tested for evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS In this case study, viral swabs and blood samples were collected from animals in a pet shop and its corresponding warehouse in Hong Kong. Nasal swab or saliva samples from human COVID-19 patients epidemiologically linked to the pet shop and from subsequent local cases confirmed to be infected by SARS-CoV-2 delta variant were collected. Oral swabs were tested by quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) for SARS-CoV-2 and blood samples were serologically tested by a surrogate virus neutralisation test and plaque reduction neutralisation test. The SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR positive samples were sequenced by next generation viral full genome sequencing using the ISeq sequencing platform (Illumina), and the viral genomes were phylogenetically analysed. FINDINGS Eight (50%) of 16 individually tested Syrian hamsters in the pet shop and seven (58%) of 12 Syrian hamsters in the corresponding warehouse were positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection in RT-qPCR or serological tests. None of the dwarf hamsters (n=75), rabbits (n=246), guinea pigs (n=66), chinchillas (n=116), and mice (n=2) were confirmed positive for SARS-CoV-2 in RT-qPCR tests. SARS-CoV-2 viral genomes deduced from human and hamster cases in this incident all belong to the delta variant of concern (AY.127) that had not been circulating locally before this outbreak. The viral genomes obtained from hamsters were phylogenetically related with some sequence heterogeneity. Phylogenetic dating suggests infection in these hamsters occurred around Oct 14, 2021 (95% CI Sept 15 to Nov 9, 2021). Multiple zoonotic transmission events to humans were detected, leading to onward human-to-human transmission. INTERPRETATION Pet hamsters can be naturally infected with SARS-CoV-2. The virus can circulate among hamsters and lead to human infections. Both genetic and epidemiological results strongly suggest that there was more than one hamster-to-human transmission event in this study. This incident also led to onward human transmission. Importation of SARS-CoV-2-infected hamsters was a likely source of this outbreak. FUNDING US National Institutes of Health, Research Grants Council of Hong Kong, Food and Health Bureau, and InnoHK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Ling Yen
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Thomas H C Sit
- Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Christopher J Brackman
- Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Shirley S Y Chuk
- Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Haogao Gu
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Karina W S Tam
- Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Pierra Y T Law
- Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Gabriel M Leung
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Malik Peiris
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; HKU-Pasteur Research Pole, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Centre for Immunology and Infection, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Leo L M Poon
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; HKU-Pasteur Research Pole, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Centre for Immunology and Infection, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
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39
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Mastutik G, Rohman A, I'tishom R, Ruiz-Arrondo I, de Blas I. Experimental and natural infections of severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 in pets and wild and farm animals. Vet World 2022; 15:565-589. [PMID: 35497948 PMCID: PMC9047133 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2022.565-589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread globally and has led to extremely high mortality rates. In addition to infecting humans, this virus also has infected animals. Experimental studies and natural infections showed that dogs have a low susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection, whereas domesticated cats and other animals in the family Felidae, such as lions, tigers, snow leopards, and cougars, have a high susceptibility to viral infections. In addition, wild white-tailed deer, gorillas, and otters have been found to be infected by SARS-CoV-2. Furry farm animals, such as minks, have a high susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The virus appears to spread among minks and generate several new mutations, resulting in increased viral virulence. Furthermore, livestock animals, such as cattle, sheep, and pigs, were found to have low susceptibility to the virus, whereas chicken, ducks, turkeys, quail, and geese did not show susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection. This knowledge can provide insights for the development of SARS-CoV-2 mitigation strategies in animals and humans. Therefore, this review focuses on experimental (both replication and transmission) in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo studies of SARS-CoV-2 infections in pets and in wild and farm animals, and to provide details on the mechanism associated with natural infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gondo Mastutik
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya 60131, Indonesia
| | - Ali Rohman
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya 60115, Indonesia
| | - Reny I'tishom
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya 60131, Indonesia
| | - Ignacio Ruiz-Arrondo
- Center for Rickettsioses and Arthropod-Borne Diseases, Hospital Universitario San Pedro–CIBIR, Logroño, Spain
| | - Ignacio de Blas
- Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Instituto Universitario de Investigación Mixto Agroalimentario de Aragón (IA2), Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain
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Adler JM, Weber C, Wernike K, Michelitsch A, Friedrich K, Trimpert J, Beer M, Kohn B, Osterrieder K, Müller E. Prevalence of anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 antibodies in cats in Germany and other European countries in the early phase of the coronavirus disease-19 pandemic. Zoonoses Public Health 2022; 69:439-450. [PMID: 35238485 PMCID: PMC9115359 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
During the first months of the coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), cases of human‐to‐cat transmission were reported. Seroconversion was shown in cats infected under experimental and natural conditions. This large‐scale survey of 1,005 serum samples was conducted to investigate anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 antibody prevalence in domestic cats during the first 7 months of the pandemic in Germany and other European countries. In addition, we compared the sensitivity and specificity of two multispecies SARS‐CoV‐2 antibody enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Results were confirmed by using an indirect immunofluorescence test (iIFT) and a surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT). Sera that were highly positive for feline coronavirus (FCoV) antibodies (n = 103) were included to correct for cross‐reactivity of the tests used. Our results showed an overall SARS‐CoV‐2 seropositivity of 1.9% (n = 19) in a receptor‐binding domain (RBD)‐based ELISA, additional 0.8% (n = 8) were giving inconclusive results. In contrast, a nucleocapsid‐based ELISA revealed 0.5% (n = 5) positive and 0.2% (n = 2) inconclusive results. While the iIFT and sVNT confirmed 100% of positive and 50%–57.1% of the doubtful results as determined in the RBD ELISA, the nucleocapsid‐based assay showed a high discrepancy and only one of the five positive results could be confirmed. The results indicate significant deficits of the nucleocapsid‐based ELISA with respect to sensitivity and specificity. Due to a significantly higher rate (5.8%) of positive results in the group of highly FCoV antibody‐positive samples, cross‐reactivity of the FCoV‐ELISA with SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies cannot be excluded. Furthermore, we investigated the impact of direct contact of domestic cats (n = 23) to SARS‐CoV‐2 positive owners. Considering one inconclusive result, which got confirmed by iIFT, this exposure did not lead to a significantly higher prevalence (4.4%; p = .358) among tested subjects. Overall, we conclude that cats are a negligible entity with respect to virus transmission in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Maria Adler
- Institut für Virologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Laboklin GmbH & Co.KG, Bad Kissingen, Germany
| | | | - Kerstin Wernike
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Anna Michelitsch
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | | | - Jakob Trimpert
- Institut für Virologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin Beer
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Barbara Kohn
- Klinik für kleine Haustiere, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Klaus Osterrieder
- Institut für Virologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
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Barroso R, Vieira-Pires A, Antunes A, Fidalgo-Carvalho I. Susceptibility of Pets to SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Lessons from a Seroepidemiologic Survey of Cats and Dogs in Portugal. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10020345. [PMID: 35208799 PMCID: PMC8879010 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10020345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Betacoronavirus (β-CoV) are positive single-stranded RNA viruses known to infect mammals. In 2019, a novel zoonotic β-CoV emerged, the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV-2. Although the most frequent SARS-CoV-2 transmission route is within humans, spillover from humans to domestic and wild animals has been reported, including cats (Felis catus), dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), and minks (Neovision vision). In order to understand the potential role of domestic animals in SARS-CoV-2 global transmission, as well their susceptibility to infection, a seroepidemiologic survey of cats and dogs in Portugal was conducted. Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 were detected in 15/69 (21.74%) cats and 7/148 (4.73%) dogs. Of the SARS-CoV-2 seropositive animals, 11/22 (50.00%) were possibly infected by human-to-animal transmission, and 5/15 (33.33%) cats were probably infected by cat-to-cat transmission. Moreover, one dog tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Data suggest that cats and dogs are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection in natural conditions. Hence, a one-health approach is crucial in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic to understand the risk factors beyond infection in a human–animal environment interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Barroso
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal;
| | - Alexandre Vieira-Pires
- Equigerminal, S.A., Rua Eduardo Correia, n°13 lote 20.12, 3030-507 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.V.-P.); (I.F.-C.)
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, CIBB, PhD Programme in Experimental Biology and Biomedicine (PDBEB) and Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra (III UC), Rua Larga, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Agostinho Antunes
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal;
- CIIMAR/CIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos, s/n, 4450-208 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +351-22-3401-813
| | - Isabel Fidalgo-Carvalho
- Equigerminal, S.A., Rua Eduardo Correia, n°13 lote 20.12, 3030-507 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.V.-P.); (I.F.-C.)
- CIVG - Vasco da Gama Research Center, Escola Universitária Vasco da Gama (EUVG), Campus Universitário, Av. José R. Sousa Fernandes, 3020-210 Coimbra, Portugal
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Cardillo L, de Martinis C, Brandi S, Levante M, Cozzolino L, Spadari L, Boccia F, Carbone C, Pompameo M, Fusco G. SARS-CoV-2 Serological and Biomolecular Analyses among Companion Animals in Campania Region (2020–2021). Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10020263. [PMID: 35208718 PMCID: PMC8879797 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10020263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The first reports of SARS-CoV-2 among domestic and wild animals, together with the rapid emergence of new variants, have created serious concerns regarding a possible spillback from animal hosts, which could accelerate the evolution of new viral strains. The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence and the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 among both owned and stray pets. A total of 182 dogs and 313 cats were tested for SARS-CoV-2. Specimens collected among owned and stray pets were subjected to RT-PCR and serological examinations. No viral RNA was detected, while anti-N antibodies were observed in six animals (1.3%), one dog (0.8%) and five cats (1.7%). Animals’ background revealed that owned cats, living with owners with COVID-19, showed significantly different prevalence compared to stray ones (p = 0.0067), while no difference was found among dogs. Among the seropositive pets, three owned cats also showed moderate neutralizing antibody titers. Pets and other species are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection because of the spike affinity towards their ACE2 cellular receptor. Nevertheless, the risk of retransmission remains unclear since pet-to-human transmission has never been described. Due to the virus’ high mutation rate, new reservoirs cannot be excluded; thus, it is reasonable to test pets, mostly if living in households affected by COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Cardillo
- Unit of Exotic and Vector-Borne Diseases, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055 Portici, Italy; (L.C.); (M.L.); (L.C.)
| | - Claudio de Martinis
- Unit of Exotic and Vector-Borne Diseases, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055 Portici, Italy; (L.C.); (M.L.); (L.C.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0817865509
| | - Sergio Brandi
- Unit of Virology, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055 Portici, Italy; (S.B.); (G.F.)
| | - Martina Levante
- Unit of Exotic and Vector-Borne Diseases, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055 Portici, Italy; (L.C.); (M.L.); (L.C.)
| | - Loredana Cozzolino
- Unit of Exotic and Vector-Borne Diseases, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055 Portici, Italy; (L.C.); (M.L.); (L.C.)
| | - Luisa Spadari
- Unit of Serology, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055 Portici, Italy;
| | - Federica Boccia
- Unit of Animal Health, Department of Prevention, Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL), Napoli 3 Sud, 80100 Naples, Italy; (F.B.); (C.C.)
| | - Carmine Carbone
- Unit of Animal Health, Department of Prevention, Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL), Napoli 3 Sud, 80100 Naples, Italy; (F.B.); (C.C.)
| | - Marina Pompameo
- Unit of Animal Health “Presidio Ospedaliero Veterinario”, Department of Prevention, Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL), Napoli 1 Centro, 80100 Naples, Italy;
| | - Giovanna Fusco
- Unit of Virology, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055 Portici, Italy; (S.B.); (G.F.)
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Romito G, Bertaglia T, Bertaglia L, Decaro N, Uva A, Rugna G, Moreno A, Vincifori G, Dondi F, Diana A, Cipone M. Myocardial Injury Complicated by Systolic Dysfunction in a COVID-19-Positive Dog. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11123506. [PMID: 34944281 PMCID: PMC8697878 DOI: 10.3390/ani11123506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, is continuing to spread worldwide. As with many emerging infectious diseases, COVID-19 is of zoonotic origin, meaning that animals are susceptible to infection, including domestic pets such as dogs. Despite epidemiological surveys conducted in dogs living either in SARS-CoV-2-positive households or in geographic areas affected by COVID-19 steadily increasing, clinical reports aimed at characterising disease manifestation are currently scant in this species. This case report accurately describes the development of myocardial injury complicated by left ventricular systolic dysfunction in a SARS-CoV-2-positive dog. Interestingly, the clinical picture described herein closely resembles the cardiological compromise documented in SARS-CoV-2-positive humans and can therefore contribute to filling the current knowledge gap that exists between human and veterinary medicine concerning COVID-19. Abstract A six-year-old Cavalier King Charles spaniel was referred with a two-month history of severe exercise intolerance and syncope. Clinical signs had developed during a local wave of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) two weeks after its family members had manifested symptoms of this viral disease and their positivity to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was confirmed. Cardiologic assessment documented myocardial injury complicated by systolic dysfunction. An extensive diagnostic work-up allowed us to rule out common causes of myocardial compromise, both infective and not. Accordingly, serological and molecular tests aimed at diagnosing SARS-CoV-2 infection were subsequently performed, especially in light of the dog’s peculiar history. Results of such tests, interpreted in the light of previous findings and current knowledge from human medicine, supported a presumptive diagnosis of COVID-19-associated myocardial injury, a clinical entity hitherto poorly described in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Romito
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, 40064 Bologna, Italy; (G.R.); (F.D.); (M.C.)
| | - Teresa Bertaglia
- Clinica Veterinaria Santa Teresa, 41032 Cavezzo, Italy; (T.B.); (L.B.)
| | - Luigi Bertaglia
- Clinica Veterinaria Santa Teresa, 41032 Cavezzo, Italy; (T.B.); (L.B.)
| | - Nicola Decaro
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010 Valenzano, Italy; (N.D.); (A.U.)
| | - Annamaria Uva
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010 Valenzano, Italy; (N.D.); (A.U.)
| | - Gianluca Rugna
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, 25124 Brescia, Italy; (G.R.); (A.M.)
| | - Ana Moreno
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, 25124 Brescia, Italy; (G.R.); (A.M.)
| | - Giacomo Vincifori
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale”, 64100 Teramo, Italy;
| | - Francesco Dondi
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, 40064 Bologna, Italy; (G.R.); (F.D.); (M.C.)
| | - Alessia Diana
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, 40064 Bologna, Italy; (G.R.); (F.D.); (M.C.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Mario Cipone
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, 40064 Bologna, Italy; (G.R.); (F.D.); (M.C.)
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Murphy HL, Ly H. Understanding the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) exposure in companion, captive, wild, and farmed animals. Virulence 2021; 12:2777-2786. [PMID: 34696707 PMCID: PMC8667879 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2021.1996519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Several animal species, including ferrets, hamsters, monkeys, and raccoon dogs, have been shown to be susceptible to experimental infection by the human severe acute respiratory syndrome coronaviruses, such as SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, which were responsible for the 2003 SARS outbreak and the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, respectively. Emerging studies have shown that SARS-CoV-2 natural infection of pet dogs and cats is also possible, but its prevalence is not fully understood. Experimentally, it has been demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 replicates more efficiently in cats than in dogs and that cats can transmit the virus through aerosols. With approximately 470 million pet dogs and 370 million pet cats cohabitating with their human owners worldwide, the finding of natural SARS-CoV-2 infection in these household pets has important implications for potential zoonotic transmission events during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as future SARS-related outbreaks. Here, we describe some of the ongoing worldwide surveillance efforts to assess the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 exposure in companion, captive, wild, and farmed animals, as well as provide some perspectives on these efforts including the intra- and inter-species coronavirus transmissions, evolution, and their implications on the human-animal interface along with public health. Some ongoing efforts to develop and implement a new COVID-19 vaccine for animals are also discussed. Surveillance initiatives to track SARS-CoV-2 exposures in animals are necessary to accurately determine their impact on veterinary and human health, as well as define potential reservoir sources of the virus and its evolutionary and transmission dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah L. Murphy
- Department of Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences, Comparative & Molecular Biosciences Graduate Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA
| | - Hinh Ly
- Department of Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences, Comparative & Molecular Biosciences Graduate Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA
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Meekins DA, Gaudreault NN, Richt JA. Natural and Experimental SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Domestic and Wild Animals. Viruses 2021; 13:1993. [PMID: 34696423 PMCID: PMC8540328 DOI: 10.3390/v13101993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is the etiological agent responsible for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which continues to spread with devastating effects on global health and socioeconomics. The susceptibility of domestic and wild animal species to infection is a critical facet of SARS-CoV-2 ecology, since reverse zoonotic spillover events resulting in SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in animal populations could result in the establishment of new virus reservoirs. Adaptive mutations in the virus to new animal species could also complicate ongoing mitigation strategies to combat SARS-CoV-2. In addition, animal species susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection are essential as standardized preclinical models for the development and efficacy testing of vaccines and therapeutics. In this review, we summarize the current findings regarding the susceptibility of different domestic and wild animal species to experimental SARS-CoV-2 infection and provide detailed descriptions of the clinical disease and transmissibility in these animals. In addition, we outline the documented natural infections in animals that have occurred at the human-animal interface. A comprehensive understanding of animal susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 is crucial to inform public health, veterinary, and agricultural systems, and to guide environmental policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A. Meekins
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA; (D.A.M.); (N.N.G.)
- Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases (CEEZAD), College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66502, USA
| | - Natasha N. Gaudreault
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA; (D.A.M.); (N.N.G.)
- Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases (CEEZAD), College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66502, USA
| | - Juergen A. Richt
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA; (D.A.M.); (N.N.G.)
- Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases (CEEZAD), College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66502, USA
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Flegr J. Toxoplasmosis is a risk factor for acquiring SARS-CoV-2 infection and a severe course of COVID-19 in the Czech and Slovak population: a preregistered exploratory internet cross-sectional study. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:508. [PMID: 34583758 PMCID: PMC8477627 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-05021-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Latent toxoplasmosis, i.e. a lifelong infection with the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, affects about a third of the human population worldwide. In the past 10 years, numerous studies have shown that infected individuals have a significantly higher incidence of mental and physical health problems and are more prone to exhibiting the adverse effects of various diseases. Methods A cross-sectional internet study was performed on a population of 4499 (786 Toxoplasma-infected) participants and looked for factors which positively or negatively affect the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and likelihood of a severe course of COVID-19. Results Logistic regression and partial Kendall correlation controlling for sex, age, and size of the place of residence showed that latent toxoplasmosis had the strongest effect on the risk of infection (OR = 1.50) before sport (OR = 1.30) and borreliosis (1.27). It also had the strongest effect on the risk of severe course of infection (Tau = 0.146), before autoimmunity, immunodeficiency, male sex, keeping a cat, being overweight, borreliosis, higher age, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Toxoplasmosis augmented the adverse effects of other risk factors but was not the proximal cause of the effect of cat-keeping on higher likelihood of COVID infection and higher severity of the course of infection because the effect of cat-keeping was also observed (and in particular) in a subset of Toxoplasma-infected respondents (Tau = 0.153). Effects of keeping a cat were detected only in respondents from multi-member families, suggesting that a cat could be a vector for the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 within a family. Conclusions Toxoplasmosis is currently not considered a risk factor for COVID-19, and Toxoplasma-infected individuals are neither informed about their higher risk nor prioritised in vaccination programs. Because toxoplasmosis affects a large segment of the human population, its impact on COVID-19-associated effects on public health could be considerable. Graphical abstract ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaroslav Flegr
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Biology, Division of Biology, Department of Philosophy and History of Sciences, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, Prague 2, 128 00, Czech Republic. .,National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, 250 67, Czech Republic.
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Report of One-Year Prospective Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Dogs and Cats in France with Various Exposure Risks: Confirmation of a Low Prevalence of Shedding, Detection and Complete Sequencing of an Alpha Variant in a Cat. Viruses 2021; 13:v13091759. [PMID: 34578341 PMCID: PMC8473452 DOI: 10.3390/v13091759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the probable zoonotic origin of SARS-CoV-2, only limited research efforts have been made to understand the role of companion animals in SARS-CoV-2 epidemiology. According to recent serological prevalence studies, human-to-companion animal transmission is quite frequent, which led us to consider that the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from animal to human, albeit negligible in the present context, may have been underestimated. In this study, we provide the results of a prospective survey that was conducted to evaluate the SARS-CoV-2 isolation rate by qRT-PCR in dogs and cats with different exposure risks and clinical statuses. From April 2020 to April 2021, we analyzed 367 samples and investigated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA using qRT-PCR. Only four animals tested positive, all of them being cats. Three cats were asymptomatic and one presented a coryza-like syndrome. We describe in detail the infection in two cats and the associated clinical characteristics. Importantly, we obtained SARS-CoV-2 genomes from one infected animal and characterized them as Alpha variants. This represents the first identification of the SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant in an infected animal in France.
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Di D, Dileepan M, Ahmed S, Liang Y, Ly H. Recombinant SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Protein: Expression, Purification, and Its Biochemical Characterization and Utility in Serological Assay Development to Assess Immunological Responses to SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Pathogens 2021; 10:1039. [PMID: 34451501 PMCID: PMC8402198 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10081039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein (N) binds a single-stranded viral RNA genome to form a helical ribonucleoprotein complex that is packaged into virion particles. N is relatively conserved among coronaviruses and consists of the N-terminal domain (NTD) and C-terminal domain (CTD), which are flanked by three disorganized regions. N is highly immunogenic and has been widely used to develop a serological assay as a diagnostic tool for COVID-19 infection, although there is a concern that the natural propensity of N to associate with RNA might compromise the assay's specificity. We expressed and purified from bacterial cells two recombinant forms of SARS-CoV-2 N, one from the soluble fraction of bacterial cell lysates that is strongly associated with bacterial RNAs and the other that is completely devoid of RNAs. We showed that both forms of N can be used to develop enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for the specific detection of human and mouse anti-N monoclonal antibodies (mAb) as well as feline SARS-CoV-2 seropositive serum samples, but that the RNA-free form of N exhibits a slightly higher level of sensitivity than the RNA-bound form to react to anti-N mouse mAb. Using the electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), we also showed that N preferentially binds ssRNA in a sequence-independent manner and that both NTD and CTD of N contribute to RNA-binding activity. Collectively, our study describes methods to express, purify, and biochemically characterize the SARS-CoV-2 N protein and to use it for the development of serological assays to detect SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Yuying Liang
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN 55108, USA; (D.D.); (M.D.); (S.A.)
| | - Hinh Ly
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN 55108, USA; (D.D.); (M.D.); (S.A.)
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