Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from Human to Domestic Ferret

Abstract

N atural infections with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in domestic animals living in infected households have been reported (1). Because of their increased popularity as a pet (2), domestic ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) pose a high risk for transmitting anthropozoonotic infections. A recent study in Spain showed that natural SARS-CoV-2 infections can occur in ferrets kept as working animals for rabbit hunting, especially if a high viral circulation is present in the human population (3). Further, ferrets are common laboratory animal models and, at least in experimental conditions, have been shown to be highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and likely to transmit the virus to other ferrets without apparent clinical signs (4). The StudyOn November 20, 2020, a 5-year-old neutered male domestic ferret had signs of acute gastroenteritis, including apathy, anorexia, vomiting, and profuse mucous diarrhea. Another ferret in the same household appeared healthy. Because the ferret's condition did not improve, the owner took it to a veterinary hospital for clinical examination on November 23. The ferret was lethargic and, on the basis of skin turgor, was >5% dehydrated with low body temperature (36.4°C, reference range 37.8-40°C) and slow heart rate (180 beats/min, reference 200-400 beats/min). The body condition of the ferret was good, with a bodyweight of 1.3 kg. Several hematology and serum biochemistry results were elevated: red blood cell count (12.36 × 10 6 /µL, reference 7.01-9.65 × 10 6 /µL), hemoglobin concentration (21.2 g/dL, reference 12.2-16.5 g/dL), and hematocrit (0.57%, reference 0.36%-0.48%); blood urea nitrogen (>129.94 mg/dL, reference 18-32 mg/ dL), hyperproteinemia (8.5 g/dL, reference 4.5-6.2 g/ dL), hyperglobulinemia (4.4 g/dL, reference 2.8-3.6 g/dL), and borderline hyperalbuminemia (4.0 g/ dL, reference 2.5-4.0 g/dL) were consistent with dehydration and possible infection. The results of all other hematologic and biochemical values were within reference ranges. Whole-body radiographs (Appendix Figure, https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/EID/ article/27/9/21-0774-App1.pdf) showed splenomegaly and gas accumulation in intestinal loops. Interstitial and alveolar patterns of cranial lung lobes were present, indicating possible lobar pneumonia. The ferret was hospitalized and initially given fl uid therapy, amoxicillin, esomeprazole, maropitant, and dexamethasone. Three days later, the clinical status of the ferret improved, hematologic and biochemical values normalized, and the ferret was scheduled for discharge. However, on the same day, the owner informed the veterinary hospital of having positive results for SARS-CoV-2 RNA tested on November 24, after 9 days of malaise. Additional rectal and oropharyngeal swab specimens and blood samples were taken from the ferret for further diagnostic procedures, and the ferret was discharged from the hospital and put into isolation at the owner's home. Samples were not taken from the other pet ferret at the residence, but the rest of househo...

Performance of UMELISA SARS-CoV-2 antigen and STANDARD F COVID-19 in the diagnosis of COVID-19 in Villa Clara, Cuba

“…Table 8 presents the results regarding the correlation between the fluorescence value (Fluor) of UMELISA SARS-CoV-2 Antigen and cut-off index (COI) of STANDARD F COVID-19 Ag FIA with the cycle threshold (Ct) of RT-PCR. Interpreting diagnostic test values for COVID-19 is essential for clinicians, epidemiologists and microbiologists [20][21][22][23][24][25]. Ct is a semiquantitative value inversely related to the amount of RNA in the sample, so that a low Ct number is related to higher viral load and vice versa [4,5,12,15,21,26].…”

An Updated Review on SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Animals

“…Since then, SARS-CoV-2 has been detected in minks in hundreds of mink farms in 14 countries ( Figure 2 ). Other pet animals, including domestic ferrets and hamsters, also tested positive in Slovenia in November 2020 and in China in January 2022, respectively [ 19 , 20 ]. Other than domestic, captive, and farmed animals, SARS-CoV-2 in wild animals including deer, feral minks, feral cats, and wild otters were reported in the USA, Spain, the Netherlands, and Spain, respectively [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ] ( Figure 1 ).…”

“…Since the first case of animal infection with SARS-CoV-2 in 2020, much effort has been put into tracking the infection sources in animals, which is the key to controlling infection in them. Several lines of evidence suggest that infection in dogs [ 11 , 16 , 26 , 27 ], cats [ 9 ], large cats [ 7 , 8 , 12 , 13 ], and domestic ferrets [ 19 ] were due to human-to-animal transmissions ( Figure 1 ). In the case of the farmed minks, it was reported that minks were infected through a human-to-mink transmission route [ 18 ]; then, infected minks transmitted the virus back to humans [ 28 ] ( Figure 1 ).…”

Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 delta variant (AY.127) from pet hamsters to humans, leading to onward human-to-human transmission: a case study

“…SARS-CoV-2 and its descendent variants have a wide host range besides humans. Natural human-to-animal infections have been documented in companion (dogs, cats, ferrets), [1][2][3] zoo (feline species 4 and gorillas), farmed (mink), 5 and wild (white-tailed deer) 6 animals. Experimental challenge has identified that non-human primates, hamsters, ferrets, American minks, cats, dogs, raccoon dogs, North American deer mice, Egyptian fruit bats, Asian small clawed otters, and white-tailed deer were highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection.…”