An Updated Review on SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Animals

Abstract

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has lasted for two years and caused millions of infections and deaths in humans. Although the origin of SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans remains unknown, infection in animals has been frequently reported in varieties of animals all over the world. Both experimental and natural infections of SARS-CoV-2 in different animal species provide useful information on viral host range and pathogenicity. As the pandemic continues to evolve, SARS-CoV-2 infection in animals will be expanding. In this review, we summarized SARS-CoV-2 testing and infection in animals as well as SARS-CoV-2 strains and transmission in animals. Current data showed that at least 18 different animal species tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. These 18 animal species belong to pet, captive, farmed, and wild animals. Fifteen of the eighteen animal species were known to be positive for the Delta variant and ten animal species were infected with two different types of variants. Human-to-animal, animal-to-animal, and animal-to-human transmission events were suggested in different outbreaks involved in animal infection with SARS-CoV-2. Continued testing, immunization, and surveillance are warranted.

SARS-CoV-2 exposure in Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) from New York City

“…As of October 10, 2022, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID- 19), has caused approximately 621 million human cases and 6.6 million deaths globally (1). In addition to humans, a wide range of wild, domestic, and captive animals were documented with exposure to SARS-CoV-2, such as deer, mink, otters, ferrets, hamsters, gorillas, cats, dogs, lions, and tigers (2)(3)(4). SARS-CoV-2 in farmed mink was shown to cause infections in humans (5), highlighting mink as a potential reservoir for secondary zoonotic infections.…”

SARS-CoV-2 and animals, a long story that doesn't have to end now: What we need to learn from the emergence of the Omicron variant

“…SARS-CoV-2 strains in wildlife generally mirrored the epidemiologic situation in humans; in early phase of pandemics animals were infected by ancestral strains, whereas in the latter stages diverse VOCs was detected, with Delta variant being the predominant ( 53 ).…”

Zoonose e zoonose reversa do SARS-CoV-2 sob a perspectiva da Saúde Única

“…A variante adaptada a visons, com mutações no cluster 5, infectou até 68% dos empregados em fazendas de criação desses animais (Molenaar et al, 2020;Oreshkova et al, 2020;Hammer et al, 2021). Cui et al (2022) apontam que a variante Delta foi a predominante entre as infecções em animais, porém foram detectadas infecções por todas as demais variantes de maior circulação nas distintas espécies investigadas, indicando que existem poucas barreiras para a transmissão entre espécies. Segundo Bashor et al (2021), até outubro de 2021 haviam sido detectadas 14 variantes emergentes do vírus SARS-CoV-2 em animais, com mutações na estrutura do capsídeo, espícula e em genes nãoestruturais.…”

“…Medidas de controle são desafiadoras em animais de vida livre. A intensificação do número de amostras e o incremento da vigilância epidemiológica para um número maior de espécies pode ser importante para o reconhecimento de novas variantes, de ameaças à saúde da fauna local e de possíveis medidas de controle relacionadas às dinâmicas na relação entre animais e o meio ambiente que possam ocasionar a transmissão zoonótica ou entre espécies Cui et al (2022). sugerem a utilização de vacinas veterinárias contra o SARS-CoV-2, já comercialmente disponíveis, ou o desenvolvimento de vacinas orais ou de dispersão na água ou ambiente,…”