Dog, cat, pet to human and human to pet COVID‐19 transmission

Abstract

Dear Editor, we would like to share ideas on the publication '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' (Akhtardanesh et al., 2022). The goal of Akhtardanesh et al. (2022) was to identify SARS-CoV-2 in domestic cats and dogs with COVID-19 positive owners. In their study, Akhtardanesh et al. found that SARS-CoV-2 was present in domestic cats that were in close proximity to COVID-19 positive owners during the time that new SARS-CoV-2 variants (Delta and Omicron) were circulating in Iran.They hypothesised that the transmission may have happened from the owners to their cats. As a result, during the COVID-19 disease, affected owners should carefully restrict close contact with their dogs (Akhtardanesh et al., 2022). We both believe that there is a possibility of COVID-19 transmission from people to animals. Recognising the opposite mode of transfer, pet to human COVID-19 transmission, is crucial though (Piewbang et al., 2022;Zhou et al., 2022). When an illness is found in both the pet and the owner, whether it is symptomatic or asymptomatic, it is typically difficult to determine which infection started it. To reduce the likelihood of the virus spreading within the population during the COVID-19 pandemic, Zhou et al. ( 2022) proposed that improving hygiene precautions and hand washing following intimate contact with pets are crucial.