One-Year Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 Exposure in Stray Cats and Kennel Dogs from Northeastern Italy

Bellinati, Laura; Campalto, Mery; Mazzotta, Elisa; Ceglie, Letizia; Cavicchio, Lara; Mion, Monica; Lucchese, Laura; Salomoni, Angela; Bortolami, Alessio; Quaranta, Erika; Magarotto, Jacopo; Favarato, M.; Shaughnessy, Laura; Natale, Alda

doi:10.3390/microorganisms11010110

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 74 publications

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“…Therefore, it is possible that those two viruses were involved in the reported clinical signs in those cats. It is also possible that clinical signs could be present in cats infected with SARS-CoV-2 that did not seroconvert, as reported in studies on cats [ 41 , 42 ] and humans [ 43 , 44 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and low prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in cats recently exposed to human cases

Daigle,

Khalid,

Gagnon

et al. 2024

BMC Vet Res

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Background The primary objective of this cross-sectional study, conducted in Québec and Bristish Columbia (Canada) between February 2021 and January 2022, was to measure the prevalence of viral RNA in oronasal and rectal swabs and serum antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) amongst cats living in households with at least one confirmed human case. Secondary objectives included a description of potential risk factors for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and an estimation of the association between the presence of viral RNA in swabs as well as SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and clinical signs. Oronasal and rectal swabs and sera were collected from 55 cats from 40 households at most 15 days after a human case confirmation, and at up to two follow-up visits. A RT-qPCR assay and an ELISA were used to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in swabs and serum SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies, respectively. Prevalence and 95% Bayesian credibility intervals (BCI) were calculated, and associations were evaluated using prevalence ratio and 95% BCI obtained from Bayesian mixed log-binomial models. Results Nine (0.16; 95% BCI = 0.08–0.28) and 38 (0.69; 95% BCI = 0.56–0.80) cats had at least one positive RT-qPCR and at least one positive serological test result, respectively. No risk factor was associated with the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 serum antibodies. The prevalence of clinical signs suggestive of COVID-19 in cats, mainly sneezing, was 2.12 (95% BCI = 1.03–3.98) times higher amongst cats with detectable viral RNA compared to those without. Conclusions We showed that cats develop antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 when exposed to recent human cases, but detection of viral RNA on swabs is rare, even when sampling occurs soon after confirmation of a human case. Moreover, cats with detectable levels of virus showed clinical signs more often than cats without signs, which can be useful for the management of such cases.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and low prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in cats recently exposed to human cases

Daigle,

Khalid,

Gagnon

et al. 2024

BMC Vet Res

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“…In the months following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, several studies were conducted with the aim of understanding the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to domestic and wild animals [8,10,23,24]. The present study aimed to investigate the serological prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among companion animals (cats and dogs), mainly from the Puglia region and, due to the collaboration of private veterinary centers, also from two other southern Italian regions (Basilicata and Calabria) through passive surveillance.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, this study highlights the importance of updating screening and confirmatory tests used in serosurveys and tailoring the assay panel to the collection date of samples to ensure high sensitivity and the reliability of the results. domestic and wild animals [8,10,23,24]. The present study aimed to investigate the serological prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among companion animals (cats and dogs), mainly from the Puglia region and, due to the collaboration of private veterinary centers, also from two other southern Italian regions (Basilicata and Calabria) through passive surveillance.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

SARS-CoV-2 in Animal Companions: A Serosurvey in Three Regions of Southern Italy

Bianco,

Bortolami,

Miccolupo

et al. 2023

Life

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Several animal species have been found to be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The occurrence of infection in dogs and cats living in close contact with owners deserves particular attention from public health authorities in a One Health approach. In this study, we conducted serological screening to identify SARS-CoV-2 exposure in the sera from dogs and cats in three regions of southern Italy sampled during the years 2021 and 2022. We collected 100 serum samples in 2021 (89 from dogs and 11 from cats) and 640 in 2022 (577 from dogs and 63 from cats). Overall, the ELISA positivity rate was found to be 2.7% (20/740), with higher seroprevalence in dogs. Serum neutralization tests confirmed positivity only in two samples collected from dogs, and the assays, performed with serologically distinct SARS-CoV-2 variants, showed variant-specific positivity. This paper shows that monitoring SARS-CoV-2 exposure in animals might be affected by the viral antigenic evolution, which requires continuous updates to the serological tests used. Serological surveys are useful in understanding the true extent of exposure occurring in specific animal populations, not suffering the same limitations as molecular tests, and could help in identifying the infecting virus if tests able to characterize the immune response are used. The use of variant-specific validated serological methods should always be considered in serosurvey studies in order to determine the real impact of emerging variants on animal populations and its implications for veterinary and human health, as well as to identify potential reservoirs of the virus and its evolutionary changes.

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An overview of SARS‐CoV2 natural infections in companion animals: A systematic review of the current evidence

Heydarifard,

Chegeni,

Heydarifard

et al. 2024

Reviews in Medical Virology

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This systematic review provides a comprehensive overview of natural SARS‐CoV‐2 infections in companion animals. The findings show that these infections are relatively rare. Among the examined dogs, only 1.32% tested positive for SARS‐CoV‐2, while for cats, the rate was 1.55%. Infections in rabbits and ferrets were even less common, at less than 1%. These results support previous research indicating the infrequency of natural infections in companion animals. The review also includes updated studies that involved various pets, such as cats, dogs, ferrets, and rabbits. The majority of the studies analyzed were primarily concerned with screening pets that visited veterinary clinics, regardless of whether they showed any specific signs of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Only a limited number of studies investigated infections in animals suspected of being in contact with owners or other animals that had COVID‐19 or were exhibiting symptoms. The most common variant identified among the SARS‐CoV‐2 variants in the reviewed studies was B.1.1.7 (alpha), followed by B.1.617.2 (delta), B.1.526 (Iota), and others. The emergence of these variants raises concerns about their potential for increased transmissibility and virulence, highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring of SARS‐CoV‐2 infections in both humans and animals. Furthermore, most of the reviewed studies indicated that infected pets either showed no symptoms or experienced mild symptoms. This aligns with previous reports suggesting that animals infected with SARS‐CoV‐2 generally have less severe illness compared to humans. However, it is essential to recognize the possibility of severe illness or death in animals, particularly those with underlying health conditions. Continuous surveillance of SARS‐CoV‐2 infections in companion animals is crucial for better understanding the virus's epidemiology in animals and developing effective strategies to protect both animal and human health.

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One-Year Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 Exposure in Stray Cats and Kennel Dogs from Northeastern Italy

Cited by 8 publications

References 74 publications

High prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and low prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in cats recently exposed to human cases

High prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and low prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in cats recently exposed to human cases

SARS-CoV-2 in Animal Companions: A Serosurvey in Three Regions of Southern Italy

An overview of SARS‐CoV2 natural infections in companion animals: A systematic review of the current evidence

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