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El-Tholoth M, Hussein M, Mohammed D, Al-Rasheedi M, Al-Qubaisi H, Al-Blooshi A, Al-Ahbabi M, Al-Dhaheri Z, Al-Blooshi K, Al-Herbawi M, Abo Elfadl EA, Seboussi R. Serological Investigation on the Presence of Feline Coronavirus (FCoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Domestic Cats Living with COVID-19 Positive Owners in the UAE, 2022. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13030493. [PMID: 36766382 PMCID: PMC9913769 DOI: 10.3390/ani13030493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Feline coronavirus (FCoV) is widely circulating among domestic cats (Felis catus). The zoonotic origin of the emerged severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the biological characteristics of CoVs, including the ability to cross interspecies barriers, facilitate its emergence in different animals, including cats' populations. The current study is the first to report the serological investigation on the presence of FCoV and SARS-CoV-2 in domestic cats living with COVID-19-positive owners in the UAE. A total of 83 sera were collected from domestic cats living with COVID-19-positive owners (by RT-qPCR). The cats were sampled during the period between February and May 2022 in Al-Ain and Abu Dhabi Cities, UAE. Detection of FCoV and SARS-CoV-2 was carried out by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). FCoV antibodies were detected in 54 samples (65%). The frequencies of FCoV were significantly higher in purebred cats (48%; 40/83) and in the cat group with outdoor access (49.4%; 41/83). SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in collected sera revealed 8 samples (9.6%) with positive results. Four samples (4.8%) showed positive results for both FCoV and SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. In conclusion, FCoV is widely circulating within cats' populations involved in the study. The antibodies for SARS-CoV-2 were detected in cats' populations but at a low prevalence rate. COVID-19-positive people should avoid close contact with their cats. Future serological testing of large cats' populations is crucial for providing a good understanding of COVID-19 dynamics in cats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed El-Tholoth
- Veterinary Science Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, Al Ain Men’s Campus, Higher Colleges of Technology, Al Ain P.O. Box 17155, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
- Correspondence: or
| | - Mahmoud Hussein
- Veterinary Science Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, Al Ain Men’s Campus, Higher Colleges of Technology, Al Ain P.O. Box 17155, United Arab Emirates
| | - Dina Mohammed
- Veterinary Science Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, Al Ain Men’s Campus, Higher Colleges of Technology, Al Ain P.O. Box 17155, United Arab Emirates
| | - Majed Al-Rasheedi
- Veterinary Science Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, Al Ain Men’s Campus, Higher Colleges of Technology, Al Ain P.O. Box 17155, United Arab Emirates
| | - Hamad Al-Qubaisi
- Veterinary Science Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, Al Ain Men’s Campus, Higher Colleges of Technology, Al Ain P.O. Box 17155, United Arab Emirates
| | - Abdullah Al-Blooshi
- Veterinary Science Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, Al Ain Men’s Campus, Higher Colleges of Technology, Al Ain P.O. Box 17155, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mohammed Al-Ahbabi
- Veterinary Science Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, Al Ain Men’s Campus, Higher Colleges of Technology, Al Ain P.O. Box 17155, United Arab Emirates
| | - Zayed Al-Dhaheri
- Veterinary Science Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, Al Ain Men’s Campus, Higher Colleges of Technology, Al Ain P.O. Box 17155, United Arab Emirates
| | - Khalifa Al-Blooshi
- Veterinary Science Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, Al Ain Men’s Campus, Higher Colleges of Technology, Al Ain P.O. Box 17155, United Arab Emirates
| | - Majd Al-Herbawi
- Animal Development & Health Department, Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), Dubai P.O. Box 1509, United Arab Emirates
| | - Eman A. Abo Elfadl
- Department of Animal Husbandry and Development of Animal Wealth, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
| | - Rabiha Seboussi
- Veterinary Science Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, Al Ain Men’s Campus, Higher Colleges of Technology, Al Ain P.O. Box 17155, United Arab Emirates
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