1
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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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2
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Morozov I, Gaudreault NN, Trujillo JD, Indran SV, Cool K, Kwon T, Meekins DA, Balaraman V, Artiaga BL, Madden DW, McDowell C, Njaa B, Retallick J, Hainer N, Millership J, Wilson WC, Tkalcevic G, Vander Horst H, Burakova Y, King V, Hutchinson K, Hardham JM, Schwahn DJ, Kumar M, Richt JA. Preliminary Study on the Efficacy of a Recombinant, Subunit SARS-CoV-2 Animal Vaccine against Virulent SARS-CoV-2 Challenge in Cats. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1831. [PMID: 38140233 PMCID: PMC10747320 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11121831] [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: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The objective of this work was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a recombinant, subunit SARS-CoV-2 animal vaccine in cats against virulent SARS-CoV-2 challenge. Two groups of cats were immunized with two doses of either a recombinant SARS-CoV-2 spike protein vaccine or a placebo, administered three weeks apart. Seven weeks after the second vaccination, both groups of cats were challenged with SARS-CoV-2 via the intranasal and oral routes simultaneously. Animals were monitored for 14 days post-infection for clinical signs and viral shedding before being humanely euthanized and evaluated for macroscopic and microscopic lesions. The recombinant SARS-CoV-2 spike protein subunit vaccine induced strong serologic responses post-vaccination and significantly increased neutralizing antibody responses post-challenge. A significant difference in nasal and oral viral shedding, with significantly reduced virus load (detected using RT-qPCR) was observed in vaccinates compared to mock-vaccinated controls. Duration of nasal, oral, and rectal viral shedding was also significantly reduced in vaccinates compared to controls. No differences in histopathological lesion scores were noted between the two groups. Our findings support the safety and efficacy of the recombinant spike protein-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccine which induced high levels of neutralizing antibodies and reduced nasal, oral, and rectal viral shedding, indicating that this vaccine will be efficacious as a COVID-19 vaccine for domestic cats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor Morozov
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA (V.B.)
| | - Natasha N. Gaudreault
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA (V.B.)
| | - Jessie D. Trujillo
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA (V.B.)
| | - Sabarish V. Indran
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA (V.B.)
| | - Konner Cool
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA (V.B.)
| | - Taeyong Kwon
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA (V.B.)
| | - David A. Meekins
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA (V.B.)
| | - Velmurugan Balaraman
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA (V.B.)
| | - Bianca Libanori Artiaga
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA (V.B.)
| | - Daniel W. Madden
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA (V.B.)
| | - Chester McDowell
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA (V.B.)
| | - Bradley Njaa
- Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA; (B.N.)
| | - Jamie Retallick
- Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA; (B.N.)
| | | | | | - William C. Wilson
- Foreign Arthropod-Borne Animal Disease Research Unit, National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, United States Department of Agriculture, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Juergen A. Richt
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA (V.B.)
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3
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Nooruzzaman M, Diel DG. Infection Dynamics, Pathogenesis, and Immunity to SARS-CoV-2 in Naturally Susceptible Animal Species. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2023; 211:1195-1201. [PMID: 37782853 PMCID: PMC10558081 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2300378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic, presents a broad host range. Domestic cats and white-tailed deer (WTD) are particularly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 with multiple variant strains being associated with infections in these species. The virus replicates in the upper respiratory tract and in associated lymphoid tissues, and it is shed through oral and nasal secretions, which leads to efficient transmission of the virus to contact animals. Robust cell-mediated and humoral immune responses are induced upon infection in domestic cats, which curb the progression of clinical disease and are associated with control of infection. In WTD, high levels of neutralizing Abs are detected early upon infection. In this review, the current understanding of the infection dynamics, pathogenesis, and immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection in animals, with special focus on naturally susceptible felids and WTD, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Nooruzzaman
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States of America
| | - Diego G. Diel
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States of America
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4
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Vedelago C, Li J, Lowry K, Howard C, Wuethrich A, Trau M. A Multiplexed SERS Microassay for Accurate Detection of SARS-CoV-2 and Variants of Concern. ACS Sens 2023; 8:1648-1657. [PMID: 37026968 PMCID: PMC10081832 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.2c02782] [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: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 variants play an important role in predicting patient outcome during postinfection, and with growing fears of COVID-19 reservoirs in domestic and wild animals, it is necessary to adapt detection systems for variant detection. However, variant-specific detection remains challenging. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering is a sensitive and multiplexing technique that allows the simultaneous detection of multiple targets for accurate identification. Here we propose the development of a multiplex SERS microassay to detect both the spike and nucleocapsid structural proteins of SARS-CoV-2. The designed SERS microassay integrates gold-silver hollow nanobox barcodes and electrohydrodynamically induced nanomixing which in combination enables highly specific and sensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2 and the S-protein epitopes to delineate between ancestral prevariant strains with the newer variants of concern, Delta and Omicron. The microassay allows detection from as low as 20 virus/μL and 50 pg/mL RBD protein and can clearly identify the virus among infected versus healthy nasopharyngeal swabs, with the potential to identify between variants. The detection of both S- and N-proteins of SARS-CoV-2 and the differentiation of variants on the SERS microassay can aid the early detection of COVID-19 to reduce transmission rates and lead into adequate treatments for those severely affected by the virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney Vedelago
- Centre for Personalised Nanomedicine, Australian
Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), The University of
Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Junrong Li
- Centre for Personalised Nanomedicine, Australian
Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), The University of
Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Kym Lowry
- The Queensland Paediatric Infectious Diseases (QIPD)
Sakzewski Research Group, Queensland Children’s
Hospital, Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia
- University of Queensland Centre for
Clinical Research (UQCCR), Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital,
Brisbane, QLD 4029, Australia
| | - Christopher Howard
- Centre for Personalised Nanomedicine, Australian
Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), The University of
Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Alain Wuethrich
- Centre for Personalised Nanomedicine, Australian
Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), The University of
Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Matt Trau
- Centre for Personalised Nanomedicine, Australian
Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), The University of
Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences,
The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072,
Australia
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5
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Qiu X, Liu Y, Sha A. SARS-CoV-2 and natural infection in animals. J Med Virol 2023; 95:e28147. [PMID: 36121159 PMCID: PMC9538246 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.28147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which has caused serious challenges for public health systems worldwide. Due to the close relationship between animals and humans, confirmed transmission from humans to numerous animal species has been reported. Understanding the cross-species transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and the infection and transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in different animals is crucial to control COVID-19 and protect animal health. In this review, the possible animal origins of SARS-CoV-2 and animal species naturally susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection are discussed. Furthermore, this review categorizes the SARS-CoV-2 susceptible animals by families, so as to better understand the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 and animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Qiu
- School of Biology and Food EngineeringChongqing Three Gorges UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Yi Liu
- School of Biology and Food EngineeringChongqing Three Gorges UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Ailong Sha
- School of Teacher EducationChongqing Three Gorges UniversityChongqingChina
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6
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Villanueva-Saz S, Martínez M, Giner J, González A, Tobajas AP, Pérez MD, Lira-Navarrete E, González-Ramírez AM, Macías-León J, Verde M, Yzuel A, Hurtado-Guerrero R, Arias M, Santiago L, Aguiló-Gisbert J, Ruíz H, Lacasta D, Marteles D, Fernández A. A cross-sectional serosurvey of SARS-CoV-2 and co-infections in stray cats from the second wave to the sixth wave of COVID-19 outbreaks in Spain. Vet Res Commun 2022; 47:615-629. [PMID: 36229725 PMCID: PMC9560875 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-022-10016-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 is the causative agent of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in humans. Among domestic animals, cats are more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 than dogs. The detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in seemingly healthy cats and/or infected cats which are in close contact with infected humans has been described. The presence of animals that tested positive by serology or molecular techniques could represent a potential transmission pathway of SARS-CoV-2 that can spill over into urban wildlife. This study analyses the seroprevalence variation of SARS-CoV-2 in stray cats from different waves of outbreaks in a geographical area where previous seroepidemiological information of SARS-CoV-2 was available and investigate if SARS-CoV-2-seropositive cats were exposed to other co-infections causing an immunosuppressive status and/or a chronic disease that could lead to a SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility. For this purpose, a total of 254 stray cats from Zaragoza (Spain) were included. This analysis was carried out by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using the receptor binding domain of Spike antigen and confirmed by serum virus neutralization assay. The presence of co-infections including Toxoplasma gondii, Leishmania infantum, Dirofilaria immitis, feline calicivirus, feline herpesvirus type 1, feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus, was evaluated using different serological methods. A seropositivity of 1.57% was observed for SARS-CoV-2 including the presence of neutralizing antibodies in three cats. None of the seropositive to SARS-CoV-2 cats were positive to feline coronavirus, however, four SARS-CoV-2-seropositive cats were also seropositive to other pathogens such as L. infantum, D. immitis and FIV (n = 1), L. infantum and D. immitis (n = 1) and L. infantum alone (n = 1).Considering other pathogens, a seroprevalence of 16.54% was detected for L. infantum, 30.31% for D. immitis, 13.78%, for T. gondii, 83.86% for feline calicivirus, 42.52% for feline herpesvirus type 1, 3.15% for FeLV and 7.87% for FIV. Our findings suggest that the epidemiological role of stray cats in SARS-CoV-2 transmission is scarce, and there is no increase in seropositivity during the different waves of COVID-19 outbreaks in this group of animals. Further epidemiological surveillances are necessary to determine the risk that other animals might possess even though stray cats do not seem to play a role in transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Villanueva-Saz
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain. .,Deparment of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain. .,Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Zaragoza, Spain.
| | - Mariví Martínez
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain.,Deparment of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Jacobo Giner
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain.,Deparment of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Ana González
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain.,Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Ana Pilar Tobajas
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Zaragoza, Spain.,Department of Animal Production and Sciences of the Food, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - María Dolores Pérez
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Zaragoza, Spain.,Department of Animal Production and Sciences of the Food, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Erandi Lira-Navarrete
- Institute for Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), University of Zaragoza, Edificio I+D, Campus Rio Ebro, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Andrés Manuel González-Ramírez
- Institute for Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), University of Zaragoza, Edificio I+D, Campus Rio Ebro, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Javier Macías-León
- Institute for Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), University of Zaragoza, Edificio I+D, Campus Rio Ebro, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Maite Verde
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain.,Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Zaragoza, Spain.,Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Andrés Yzuel
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Ramón Hurtado-Guerrero
- Institute for Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), University of Zaragoza, Edificio I+D, Campus Rio Ebro, Zaragoza, Spain.,Aragon I+D Foundation (ARAID), Zaragoza, Spain.,Laboratorio de Microscopías Avanzada (LMA), University of Zaragoza, Edificio I+D, Campus Rio Ebro, Zaragoza, Spain.,, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, School of Dentistry, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Maykel Arias
- Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), Zaragoza, Spain.,CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Llipsy Santiago
- Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), Zaragoza, Spain.,CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi Aguiló-Gisbert
- Servicio de Análisis, Investigación, Gestión de Animales Silvestres (SAIGAS), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, Valencia, Spain
| | - Héctor Ruíz
- Deparment of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Delia Lacasta
- Deparment of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.,Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Diana Marteles
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Antonio Fernández
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain. .,Deparment of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain. .,Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Zaragoza, Spain.
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7
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Bashor L, Gagne RB, Bosco-Lauth A, Stenglein M, VandeWoude S. Rapid evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in domestic cats. Virus Evol 2022; 8:veac092. [PMID: 36398096 PMCID: PMC9619536 DOI: 10.1093/ve/veac092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 (SARS2) infection of a novel permissive host species can result in rapid viral evolution. Data suggest that felids are highly susceptible to SARS2 infection, and species-specific adaptation following human-to-felid transmission may occur. We employed experimental infection and analysis of publicly available SARS2 sequences to observe variant emergence and selection in domestic cats. Three cohorts of cats (N = 23) were inoculated with SARS-CoV-2 USA-WA1/2020 or infected via cat-to-cat contact transmission. Full viral genomes were recovered from RNA obtained from nasal washes 1-3 days post-infection and analyzed for within-host viral variants. We detected 118 unique variants at ≥3 per cent allele frequency in two technical replicates. Seventy of these (59 per cent) were nonsynonymous single nucleotide variants (SNVs); the remainder were synonymous SNVs or structural variants. On average, we observed twelve variants per cat, nearly 10-fold higher than what is commonly reported in human patients. We observed signatures of positive selection in the spike protein and the emergence of eleven within-host variants located at the same genomic positions as mutations in SARS2 variant lineages that have emerged during the pandemic. Fewer variants were noted in cats infected from contact with other cats and in cats exposed to lower doses of cultured inoculum. An analysis of ninety-three publicly available SARS2 consensus genomes recovered from naturally infected domestic cats reflected variant lineages circulating in the local human population at the time of sampling, illustrating that cats are susceptible to SARS2 variants that have emerged in humans, and suggesting human-to-felid transmission occurring in domestic settings is typically unidirectional. These experimental results underscore the rapidity of SARS2 adaptation in felid hosts, representing a theoretical potential origin for variant lineages in human populations. Further, cats should be considered susceptible hosts capable of shedding virus during infections occurring within households.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Bashor
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Roderick B Gagne
- Department of Pathobiology, Wildlife Futures Program, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, New Bolton Center, Kenneth Square, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Angela Bosco-Lauth
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Mark Stenglein
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Sue VandeWoude
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
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8
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Gao YY, Liang XY, Wang Q, Zhang S, Zhao H, Wang K, Hu GX, Liu WJ, Gao FS. Mind the feline coronavirus: Comparison with SARS-CoV-2. Gene 2022; 825:146443. [PMID: 35337854 PMCID: PMC8938304 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2022.146443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Both feline coronavirus (FCoV) and SARS-CoV-2 are coronaviruses that infect cats and humans, respectively. However, cats have been shown to be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2, and FCoV also had been shown to infect human. To elucidate the relationship between FCoV and SARS-CoV-2, we highlight the main characteristics of the genome, the receptor usage, and the correlation of the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of spike proteins in FCoV and SARS-CoV-2. It is demonstrated that FCoV and SARS-CoV-2 are closely related to the main characteristics of the genome, receptor usage, and RBD of spike proteins with similar furin cleavage sites. In particular, the affinity of the conserved feline angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (fACE2) receptor to the RBD of SARS-CoV-2 suggests that cats are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2. In addition, cross-species of coronaviruses between cats and humans or other domesticated animals are also discussed. This review sheds light on cats as potential intermediate hosts for SARS-CoV-2 transmission, and cross-species transmission or zoonotic infection of FCoV and SARS-CoV-2 between cats and humans was identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Yu Gao
- College of Animal Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Xiang-Yu Liang
- College of Animal Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Affiliated Hospital, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun 130117, China
| | - Shuang Zhang
- College of Animal Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Han Zhao
- College of Animal Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Kai Wang
- College of Animal Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China.
| | - Gui-Xue Hu
- College of Animal Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China.
| | - William J Liu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Feng-Shan Gao
- College of Life Science and Technology, Dalian University, Dalian 116622, China.
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9
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Doliff R, Martens P. Cats and SARS-CoV-2: A Scoping Review. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:1413. [PMID: 35681877 PMCID: PMC9179433 DOI: 10.3390/ani12111413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, various animal species were found to be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The close contact that exists between humans and cats warrants special attention to the role of this species. Therefore, a scoping review was performed to obtain a comprehensive overview of the existing literature, and to map key concepts, types of research, and possible gaps in the research. A systematic search of the databases PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus and the preprint servers medRxiv and bioRxiv was performed. After a two-step screening process, 27 peer-reviewed articles, 8 scientific communication items, and 2 unpublished pre-prints were included. The main themes discussed were susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2, induced immunity, prevalence of infection, manifestation of infection, interspecies transmission between humans and cats, and lastly, intraspecies transmission between cats. The main gaps in the research identified were a lack of large-scale studies, underrepresentation of stray, feral, and shelter cat populations, lack of investigation into cat-to-cat transmissions under non-experimental conditions, and the relation of cats to other animal species regarding SARS-CoV-2. Overall, cats seemingly play a limited role in the spread of SARS-CoV-2. While cats are susceptible to the virus and reverse zoonotic transmission from humans to cats happens regularly, there is currently no evidence of SARS-CoV-2 circulation among cats.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pim Martens
- University College Venlo, Maastricht University, Nassaustraat 36, 5911 BV Venlo, The Netherlands;
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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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