tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Transbound Emerg Dis
. 2020 Jun 5.
doi: 10.1111/tbed.13659. Online ahead of print.
First Detection and Genome Sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 in an Infected Cat in France
C Sailleau[SUP] 1 [/SUP], M Dumarest[SUP] 1 [/SUP], J Vanhomwegen[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], M Delaplace[SUP] 1 [/SUP], V Caro[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], A Kwasiborski[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], V Hourdel[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], P Chevaillier[SUP] 4 [/SUP], A Barbarino[SUP] 5 [/SUP], L Comtet[SUP] 6 [/SUP], P Pourquier[SUP] 6 [/SUP], B Klonjkowski[SUP] 1 [/SUP], J C Manuguerra[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], S Zientara[SUP] 1 [/SUP], S Le Poder[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
After its first description in Wuhan (China), SARS-CoV-2 the agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) rapidly spread worldwide. Previous studies suggested that pets could be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2. Here, we investigated the putative infection by SARS-CoV-2 in 22 cats and 11 dogs from owners previously infected or suspected of being infected by SARS-CoV-2. For each animal, rectal, nasopharyngeal swabs and serum were taken. Swabs were submitted to RT-qPCR assays targeting 2 genes of SARS-CoV-2. All dogs were tested SARS-CoV-2 negative. One cat was tested positive by RT-qPCR on rectal swab. Nasopharyngeal swabs from this animal were tested negative. This cat showed mild respiratory and digestive signs. Serological analysis confirms the presence of antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 in the both serum samples taken 10 days apart. Genome sequence analysis revealed that the cat SARS-CoV-2 belongs to the phylogenetic clade A2a like most of the French human SARS-CoV-2. This study reports for the first time the natural infection of a cat in France (near Paris) probably through their owners. There is currently no evidence that cats can spread COVID-19 and owners should not abandon their pets or compromise their welfare.
Keywords: ELISA; SARS-CoV-2; cats; luminex; next-generation sequencing; pets.
. 2020 Jun 5.
doi: 10.1111/tbed.13659. Online ahead of print.
First Detection and Genome Sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 in an Infected Cat in France
C Sailleau[SUP] 1 [/SUP], M Dumarest[SUP] 1 [/SUP], J Vanhomwegen[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], M Delaplace[SUP] 1 [/SUP], V Caro[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], A Kwasiborski[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], V Hourdel[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], P Chevaillier[SUP] 4 [/SUP], A Barbarino[SUP] 5 [/SUP], L Comtet[SUP] 6 [/SUP], P Pourquier[SUP] 6 [/SUP], B Klonjkowski[SUP] 1 [/SUP], J C Manuguerra[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], S Zientara[SUP] 1 [/SUP], S Le Poder[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 32500944
- DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13659
Abstract
After its first description in Wuhan (China), SARS-CoV-2 the agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) rapidly spread worldwide. Previous studies suggested that pets could be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2. Here, we investigated the putative infection by SARS-CoV-2 in 22 cats and 11 dogs from owners previously infected or suspected of being infected by SARS-CoV-2. For each animal, rectal, nasopharyngeal swabs and serum were taken. Swabs were submitted to RT-qPCR assays targeting 2 genes of SARS-CoV-2. All dogs were tested SARS-CoV-2 negative. One cat was tested positive by RT-qPCR on rectal swab. Nasopharyngeal swabs from this animal were tested negative. This cat showed mild respiratory and digestive signs. Serological analysis confirms the presence of antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 in the both serum samples taken 10 days apart. Genome sequence analysis revealed that the cat SARS-CoV-2 belongs to the phylogenetic clade A2a like most of the French human SARS-CoV-2. This study reports for the first time the natural infection of a cat in France (near Paris) probably through their owners. There is currently no evidence that cats can spread COVID-19 and owners should not abandon their pets or compromise their welfare.
Keywords: ELISA; SARS-CoV-2; cats; luminex; next-generation sequencing; pets.