OmniVira

SARS-CoV-2 Infections and Viral Isolations among Serially Tested Cats and Dogs in Households with Infected Owners in Texas, USA.

Sarah A Hamer1 Alex Pauvolid-Corrêa1,2 Italo B Zecca1 Edward Davila1 Lisa D Auckland1 Christopher M Roundy3 Wendy Tang3 Mia Kim Torchetti4 Mary Lea Killian4 Melinda Jenkins-Moore4 Katie Mozingo4 Yao Akpalu5 Ria R Ghai6 Jessica R Spengler6 Casey Barton Behravesh6 Rebecca S B Fischer7 Gabriel L Hamer3
Affiliations 7 institutions
  1. College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
  2. Laboratory of Respiratory Viruses and Measles, SARS-CoV-2 National Reference Laboratory and Regional Reference Laboratory in the Americas (PAHO/WHO), Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil.
  3. Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University and AgriLife Research, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
  4. National Veterinary Services Laboratories, USDA APHIS VS, Ames, IA 50010, USA.
  5. Brazos County Health Department, Bryan, TX 77803, USA.
  6. National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
  7. School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
PMID34069453 DOI10.3390/v13050938 Year2021 Journal Viruses Languageeng Statusepublish

Abstract

Understanding the ecological and epidemiological roles of pets in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is critical for animal and human health, identifying household reservoirs, and predicting the potential enzootic maintenance of the virus. We conducted a longitudinal household transmission study of 76 dogs and cats living with at least one SARS-CoV-2-infected human in Texas and found that 17 pets from 25.6% of 39 households met the national case definition for SARS-CoV-2 infections in animals. This includes three out of seventeen (17.6%) cats and one out of fifty-nine (1.7%) dogs that were positive by RT-PCR and sequencing, with the virus successfully isolated from the respiratory swabs of one cat and one dog. Whole-genome sequences of SARS-CoV-2 obtained from all four PCR-positive animals were unique variants grouping with genomes circulating among people with COVID-19 in Texas. Re-sampling showed persistence of viral RNA for at least 25 d-post initial test. Additionally, seven out of sixteen (43.8%) cats and seven out of fifty-nine (11.9%) dogs harbored SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies upon initial sampling, with relatively stable or increasing titers over the 2-3 months of follow-up and no evidence of seroreversion. The majority (82.4%) of infected pets were asymptomatic. 'Reverse zoonotic' transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from infected people to animals may occur more frequently than recognized.

Supporting text Virus Host Location
cats 133 dogs 180 neutralizing antibodies 5 reverse zoonosis 38 SARS-CoV-2 550 virus isolation 7 Animals 1948 Antibodies, Neutralizing 80 Cat Diseases 67 Cats 120 COVID-19 425 Dog Diseases 65 Dogs 176 Humans 1440 Longitudinal Studies 17 Pets 25 SARS-CoV-2 453 Texas 14

Evidence records

7 total
Zoonotic Surveillance
6 records · 3 evidence types
Evidence type Virus Isolation
2 records
Evidence type Viral Detection
2 records
OVE4822 Viral Detection
Key finding

SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected by RT-PCR and confirmed by sequencing in three cats from households with infected owners in Texas.

Virus
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Host
domestic cat Felis catus Natural host
Location
United States
Supporting text

Three out of seventeen (17.6%) cats were positive by RT-PCR and sequencing.

Method
RT-PCR | sequencing
Sample type
respiratory swabs
Geographic raw
Texas, USA
Country inferred
USA
OVE4823 Viral Detection
Key finding

SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected by RT-PCR and confirmed by sequencing in one dog from households with infected owners in Texas.

Virus
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Host
dog Canis lupus familiaris Natural host
Location
United States
Supporting text

One out of fifty-nine (1.7%) dogs was positive by RT-PCR and sequencing.

Method
RT-PCR | sequencing
Sample type
respiratory swabs
Geographic raw
Texas, USA
Country inferred
USA
Evidence type Serological Evidence
2 records
OVE4826 Serological Evidence
Key finding

Seven of sixteen cats had SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies indicating seropositivity and persistent titers over follow-up.

Virus
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Host
domestic cat Felis catus Natural host
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

Seven out of sixteen (43.8%) cats harbored SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies upon initial sampling, with relatively stable or increasing titers over the 2-3 months of follow-up and no evidence of seroreversion.

Method
neutralization assay
Sample type
serum
OVE4827 Serological Evidence
Key finding

Seven of fifty-nine dogs had SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies indicating seropositivity and persistent titers over follow-up.

Virus
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Host
dog Canis lupus familiaris Natural host
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

Seven out of fifty-nine (11.9%) dogs harbored SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies upon initial sampling, with relatively stable or increasing titers over the 2-3 months of follow-up and no evidence of seroreversion.

Method
neutralization assay
Sample type
serum
Transmission Evidence
1 records · 1 evidence types
Evidence type Cross-species Transmission
1 records
OVE4828 Cross-species Transmission
Key finding

Evidence of reverse zoonotic spillback showing transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from infected people to their pets in Texas households.

Virus
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Host
dog Canis lupus familiaris Natural host domestic cat Felis catus Natural host animals Metazoa Natural host human Homo sapiens Natural host
Location
United States
Supporting text

We conducted a longitudinal household transmission study of 76 dogs and cats living with at least one SARS-CoV-2-infected human in Texas and found that 17 pets from 25.6% of 39 households met the national case definition for SARS-CoV-2 infections in animals.

Method
RT-PCR | virus isolation | sequencing | serology
Study design
longitudinal household transmission study
Transmission direction
human-to-animal
Geographic raw
Texas