SARS‐CoV‐2 infection of companion animals in Egypt and its risk of spillover

Hamdy, Mervat E.; El‐Deeb, Ayman H.; Hagag, Naglaa M.; Shahein, Momtaz A.; Liyanage, Namal P. M.; Shalaan, Mohamed; Hussein, Hussein A.

doi:10.1002/vms3.1029

Cited by 13 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…After removing the duplicates, 6636 studies remained for title and abstract screening. In total, 47 studies were eligible for screening the full text, of which 6593 did not meet the inclusion criteria for the following reasons: short communication, 5 brief report, 3 review studies, 74 systematic reviews 8 and no relevant article (6511). Thus, 39 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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show abstract

“…Having knowledge about the chemical composition of the fabric and potential manufacturing impurities or by-products present in nasopharyngeal swabs that are being so frequently used for COVID testing of humans and, even, animals [20][21][22] is essential to ensure that potential health problems are minimized. Here, we analysed the chemical composition and ultrastructure of five brands of COVID testing swabs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Scanning electron microscopy and EDX spectroscopy of commercial swabs used for COVID-19 lateral flow testing

Aparicio-Alonso

Torres-Solórzano

Contreras

et al. 2023

Preprint

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The chemical composition of COVID test swabs has not been examined beyond the manufacturers' datasheets. Given the unprecedented demand for swabs to conduct rapid lateral flow tests and nucleic acid amplification tests, which led to mass production, including 3-D printing platforms, it is plausible that manufacturing impurities could be present in the swabs and, if so, could pose a risk for human health. We used scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy to examine the ultrastructure of five assorted brands of COVID test swabs, and to identify and quantify their chemical elements. We detected unexpected elements, including transition metals, such as titanium and zirconium, as well as aluminium, silicon, and fluorine. The amount of some of the detected elements is close to reported toxicological thresholds for inhalation routes. Experimental studies have shown that detrimental effects of the unexpected chemical elements include moderate to severe inflammatory states in the exposed epithelium as well as proliferative changes. Given the massive testing still being used in the context of the COVID pandemic, often as requisites for travelling, attending universities, or as mandatory work policies, we urge caution in continuing to recommend repeated and frequent testing, particularly of healthy, non-symptomatic, individuals.

show abstract

“…Having knowledge about the chemical composition of the fabric and potential manufacturing impurities or byproducts present in nasopharyngeal swabs that are being so frequently used for COVID testing of humans and, even, animals [20][21][22] is essential to ensure that potential health problems are minimized. Here, we analysed the chemical composition and ultrastructure of ve brands of COVID testing swabs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Scanning electron microscopy and EDX spectroscopy of commercial swabs used for COVID-19 lateral flow testing

Aparicio-Alonso

Torres-Solórzano

Contreras

et al. 2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The chemical composition of COVID test swabs has not been examined beyond the manufacturers’ datasheets. Given the unprecedented demand for swabs to conduct rapid lateral flow tests and nucleic acid amplification tests, which led to mass production, including 3-D printing platforms, it is plausible that manufacturing impurities could be present in the swabs and, if so, could pose a risk for human health. We used scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy to examine the ultrastructure of five assorted brands of COVID test swabs, and to identify and quantify their chemical elements. We detected unexpected elements, including transition metals, such as titanium and zirconium, as well as aluminium, silicon, and fluorine. The amount of some of the detected elements is close to reported toxicological thresholds for inhalation routes. Experimental studies have shown that detrimental effects of the unexpected chemical elements include moderate to severe inflammatory states in the exposed epithelium as well as proliferative changes. Given the massive testing still being used in the context of the COVID pandemic, often as requisites for travelling, attending universities, or as mandatory work policies, we urge caution in continuing to recommend repeated and frequent testing, particularly of healthy, non-symptomatic, individuals.

show abstract

SARS‐CoV‐2 infection of companion animals in Egypt and its risk of spillover

Cited by 13 publications

References 57 publications

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

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

Scanning electron microscopy and EDX spectroscopy of commercial swabs used for COVID-19 lateral flow testing

Scanning electron microscopy and EDX spectroscopy of commercial swabs used for COVID-19 lateral flow testing

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