OmniVira

Prevalence of anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 antibodies in cats in Germany and other European countries in the early phase of the coronavirus disease-19 pandemic.

Julia Maria Adler1,2 Corinna Weber2 Kerstin Wernike3 Anna Michelitsch3 Karin Friedrich2 Jakob Trimpert1 Martin Beer3 Barbara Kohn4 Klaus Osterrieder1,5 Elisabeth Müller2
Affiliations 5 institutions
  1. Institut für Virologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
  2. Laboklin GmbH & Co.KG, Bad Kissingen, Germany.
  3. Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
  4. Klinik für kleine Haustiere, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
  5. Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
PMID35238485 DOI10.1111/zph.12932 Year2022 Journal Zoonoses and public health Zoonoses Public Health Languageeng Statusppublish

Abstract

During the first months of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), cases of human-to-cat transmission were reported. Seroconversion was shown in cats infected under experimental and natural conditions. This large-scale survey of 1,005 serum samples was conducted to investigate anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence in domestic cats during the first 7 months of the pandemic in Germany and other European countries. In addition, we compared the sensitivity and specificity of two multispecies SARS-CoV-2 antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Results were confirmed by using an indirect immunofluorescence test (iIFT) and a surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT). Sera that were highly positive for feline coronavirus (FCoV) antibodies (n = 103) were included to correct for cross-reactivity of the tests used. Our results showed an overall SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity of 1.9% (n = 19) in a receptor-binding domain (RBD)-based ELISA, additional 0.8% (n = 8) were giving inconclusive results. In contrast, a nucleocapsid-based ELISA revealed 0.5% (n = 5) positive and 0.2% (n = 2) inconclusive results. While the iIFT and sVNT confirmed 100% of positive and 50%-57.1% of the doubtful results as determined in the RBD ELISA, the nucleocapsid-based assay showed a high discrepancy and only one of the five positive results could be confirmed. The results indicate significant deficits of the nucleocapsid-based ELISA with respect to sensitivity and specificity. Due to a significantly higher rate (5.8%) of positive results in the group of highly FCoV antibody-positive samples, cross-reactivity of the FCoV-ELISA with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies cannot be excluded. Furthermore, we investigated the impact of direct contact of domestic cats (n = 23) to SARS-CoV-2 positive owners. Considering one inconclusive result, which got confirmed by iIFT, this exposure did not lead to a significantly higher prevalence (4.4%; p = .358) among tested subjects. Overall, we conclude that cats are a negligible entity with respect to virus transmission in Europe.

Supporting text Virus Host Location
cats 133 COVID-19 467 SARS-CoV-2 550 seroprevalence 32 Cat Diseases 67 COVID-19 425 Animals 1948 Antibodies, Viral 212 Cats 120 Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay 36 Humans 1440 Pandemics 108 Prevalence 62 SARS-CoV-2 453

Evidence records

3 total
Zoonotic Surveillance
3 records · 1 evidence types
Evidence type Serological Evidence
3 records
OVE5725 Serological Evidence
Key finding

Domestic cats showed 1.9% SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity by RBD-based ELISA.

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

This large-scale survey of 1,005 serum samples was conducted to investigate anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence in domestic cats during the first 7 months of the pandemic in Germany and other European countries. Our results showed an overall SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity of 1.9% (n = 19) in a receptor-binding domain (RBD)-based ELISA, additional 0.8% (n = 8) were giving inconclusive results.

Method
receptor-binding domain (RBD)-based ELISA
Sample type
serum samples | sera
OVE5726 Serological Evidence
Key finding

A nucleocapsid-based ELISA detected 0.5% SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity in domestic cats.

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

This large-scale survey of 1,005 serum samples was conducted to investigate anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence in domestic cats during the first 7 months of the pandemic in Germany and other European countries. In contrast, a nucleocapsid-based ELISA revealed 0.5% (n = 5) positive and 0.2% (n = 2) inconclusive results.

Method
nucleocapsid-based ELISA
Sample type
serum samples | sera
OVE5727 Serological Evidence
Key finding

Human-to-cat transmission of SARS-CoV-2 was observed during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Virus
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Host
human Homo sapiens Natural host domestic cat Felis catus Natural host
Location
Europe
Supporting text

During the first months of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), cases of human-to-cat transmission were reported.

Method
serological detection | epidemiological observation