SARS-CoV-2 in domestic cats (Felis catus) in the northwest of Iran: Evidence for SARS-CoV-2 circulating between human and cats

Mohebali, Mehdi; Hassanpour, Gholamreza; Zainali, Mohammad; Gouya, Mohammad Mehdí; Khayatzadeh, Simin; Parsaei, Mehdi; Sarafraz, Nazila; Hassanzadeh, Mohammad; Azarm, Amrollah; Salehi‐Vaziri, Mostafa; Sasani, Farhang; Heidari, Zahra; Jalali, Tahmineh; Pouriayevali, Mohammad Hassan; Shoja, Zabihollah; Ahmadi, Zahra; Sadjadi, Marzieh; Tavakoli, Mahsa; Azad-Manjiri, Sanam; Karami, Chiman; Zarei, Zabihollah

doi:10.1016/j.virusres.2022.198673

Cited by 16 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…The first SARS-CoV-2-positive dogs from COVID-19-affected households in Hong Kong were reported early on during the pandemic [ 19 ]. Since then, natural SARS-CoV-2 infections in companion animals have been reported in several countries, including Switzerland [ 6 ], Italy and Germany [ 20 ], France [ 21 ], the United States of America (USA) [ 22 , 23 ], Spain [ 24 , 25 ], Portugal [ 26 ], Poland [ 27 ], Iran [ 28 ], and the United Kingdom (UK) [ 8 ]. Additionally, a number of SARS-CoV-2 variants have been documented in companion animals.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection and Molecular Characterization of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant and the Specific Immune Response in Companion Animals in Switzerland

Kuhlmeier

Chan²,

Agüí³

et al. 2023

Viruses

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In human beings, there are five reported variants of concern of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, in contrast to human beings, descriptions of infections of animals with specific variants are still rare. The aim of this study is to systematically investigate SARS-CoV-2 infections in companion animals in close contact with SARS-CoV-2-positive owners (“COVID-19 households”) with a focus on the Delta variant. Samples, obtained from companion animals and their owners were analyzed using a real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and next-generation sequencing (NGS). Animals were also tested for antibodies and neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2. Eleven cats and three dogs in nine COVID-19-positive households were RT-qPCR and/or serologically positive for the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant. For seven animals, the genetic sequence could be determined. The animals were infected by one of the pangolin lineages B.1.617.2, AY.4, AY.43 and AY.129 and between zero and three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected between the viral genomes of animals and their owners, indicating within-household transmission between animal and owner and in multi-pet households also between the animals. NGS data identified SNPs that occur at a higher frequency in the viral sequences of companion animals than in viral sequences of humans, as well as SNPs, which were exclusively found in the animals investigated in the current study and not in their owners. In conclusion, our study is the first to describe the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant transmission to animals in Switzerland and provides the first-ever description of Delta-variant pangolin lineages AY.129 and AY.4 in animals. Our results reinforce the need of a One Health approach in the monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 in animals.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection and Molecular Characterization of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant and the Specific Immune Response in Companion Animals in Switzerland

Kuhlmeier

Chan²,

Agüí³

et al. 2023

Viruses

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“…Natural transmission of SARS-COV-2 circulating between humans and domestic cats was also reported in the northwest of Iran (Mohebali et al, 2022). One out of 124 cats infected with SARS-COV-2 was symptomatic and showed clinical signs including respiratory symptoms (cough, wheezing, cough, dyspnea, and runny nose), gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhea and vomiting), and severe anorexia and cachexia.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

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

Jajarmi

Shojaee

et al. 2022

Veterinary Medicine & Sci

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Objective The emergence of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in dogs and cats in different countries worldwide raises concerns that pets are at a higher risk for spreading or transmitting of SARS‐CoV‐2 to humans and other pets and increased the research works about the zoonotic aspects and natural routes of infection in companion animals. The current study aimed to detect the SARS‐CoV‐2 in household dogs and cats living with COVID‐19 positive owners. Methods Deep oropharyngeal and rectal swabs were collected from 30 household pets (20 cats and 10 dogs) living with COVID‐19 positive owners from April 2021 to 2022 in Kerman, Iran. All dogs’ and cats’ samples were tested by real‐time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for detection of SARS‐CoV‐2. Results Two household cats out of 20 examined (10%) were positive for SARS‐CoV‐2, whereas none of the examined dogs were positive for SARS‐CoV‐2. The two cats positive for SARS‐CoV‐2 were symptomatic and suffered from severe anorexia with maximum contact with their infected owners. Conclusion This study reported the presence of SARS‐CoV‐2 in household cats in close contact with COVID‐19 positive owners during the circulation of new SARS‐CoV‐2 variants (Delta and Omicron) in Iran and suggested that the transmission may have occurred from owners to their cats. Therefore, infected owners should eagerly limit close contact with their pets during COVID‐19 illness.

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“…Zhao et al ( Zhao et al, 2019 ) reported that cats can be infected by human coronaviruses 229E (HCoV-229E) and (PDCoV) by serological screening, and they revealed the potential role of cats in the cross-species transmission of coronaviruses. Since SARS-CoV-2 emerged at the end of December 2019, researchers have also reported that cats can be infected by common SARS-CoV-2 strains and even (Delta) variant strains from humans ( Garigliany et al, 2020 , Curukoglu et al, 2021 , Hosie et al, 2021 , Kang et al, 2021 , Mohebali et al, 2022 ), which revealed that the fACE2 receptor could be recognized by the variant strains. The information also indicates that cats may play a special role in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, considering the three factors: similar cellular receptor, receptor binding domain (RBD) with similar furin cleavage sites, and especially the third factor, high risk of cross-transmission between humans and cats because cats are usually in close contact with humans, especially companion animals ( Stout et al, 2020 ).…”

Section: Cross-species Of Coronaviruses Between Cats and Humans Or Ot...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, in April 2020, Newman first reported cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection in companion animals, including two cats in New York ( Newman et al, 2020 ). Later, other researchers reported more cases of cats infected by SARS-CoV-2 or cases of seropositivity in different territories and countries ( Barrs et al, 2020 , Klaus et al, 2021 , Michael et al, 2021 , Spada et al, 2021 , Mohebali et al, 2022 ). Then, researchers reported that some feline coronavirus drugs are strong candidates for the treatment of patients with SARS-CoV-2 ( Vuong et al, 2020 , Paltrinieri et al, 2021 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Mind the feline coronavirus: Comparison with SARS-CoV-2

Gao

Liang

Wang

et al. 2022

Gene

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SARS-CoV-2 in domestic cats (Felis catus) in the northwest of Iran: Evidence for SARS-CoV-2 circulating between human and cats

Cited by 16 publications

References 25 publications

Detection and Molecular Characterization of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant and the Specific Immune Response in Companion Animals in Switzerland

Detection and Molecular Characterization of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant and the Specific Immune Response in Companion Animals in Switzerland

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

Mind the feline coronavirus: Comparison with SARS-CoV-2

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