Humoral response to SARS-CoV-2 by healthy and sick dogs during COVID-19 pandemic in Spain

Abstract

COVID-19 is a zoonotic disease originated by SARS-CoV-2. Infection of animals with SARS-CoV-2 are being reported during last months, and also an increase of severe lung pathologies in domestic dogs has been detected by veterinarians in Spain. Therefore it is necessary to describe the pathological processes in those animals that show symptoms similar to those described in humans affected by COVID-19. The potential for companion animals contributing to the continued human-to-human disease, infectivity, and community spread is an urgent issue to be considered. Forty animals with pulmonary pathologies were studied by chest X-ray, ultrasound study, and computed tomography. Nasopharyngeal and rectal swab were analyzed to detect canine pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2. Twenty healthy dogs living in SARS-CoV-2 positive households were included. Immunoglobulin detection by different immunoassays was performed. Our findings show that sick dogs presented severe alveolar or interstitial pattern, with pulmonary opacity, parenchymal abnormalities, and bilateral lesions. Forty dogs were negative for SARS-CoV-2 but Mycoplasma spp. was detected in 26 of 33 dogs. Five healthy and one pathological dog presented IgG against SARS-CoV-2. Here we report that despite detecting dogs with IgG α-SARS-CoV-2, we never obtained a positive RT-qPCR, not even in dogs with severe pulmonary disease; suggesting that even in the case of a canine infection transmission would be unlikely. Moreover, dogs living in COVID-19 positive households could have been more exposed to be infected during outbreaks.

SARS-CoV-2 evolution in animals suggests mechanisms for rapid variant selection

“…SARS-CoV-2 was not culturable from canine samples, consistent with previous reports (21), and was below the limit of detection by qPCR, though low level seroconversion suggested some viral replication had occurred (6). These experimental results contrast with widespread global reports of canine companions becoming infected through contact with their SARS-CoV-2-infected owners (22)(23)(24). Many variants detected in dogs were not found in the inoculum, reached high frequencies ( Table 2) and were under strong selective pressure (Fig.…”

SARS-CoV-2 Infections in Animals: Reservoirs for Reverse Zoonosis and Models for Study

“…However, 40 dogs with pulmonary signs were evaluated alongside 20 healthy dogs from COVID-19-positive households for evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection. No dogs were found to have SARS-CoV-2 RNA, but five healthy and one sick dog had antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 [ 60 ]. A further survey in China evaluated 90 beagles, 250 street dogs, and 147 pet dogs and found none had any antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 [ 52 ].…”