OmniVira

First Description of Serological Evidence for SARS-CoV-2 in Lactating Cows.

Filomena Fiorito1 Valentina Iovane2 Ugo Pagnini1 Claudia Cerracchio1 Sergio Brandi3 Martina Levante3 Luisa Marati3 Gianmarco Ferrara1 Virginio Tammaro4 Esterina De Carlo3 Giuseppe Iovane1 Giovanna Fusco3
Affiliations 4 institutions
  1. Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, 80137 Naples, Italy.
  2. Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Portici, 80055 Naples, Italy.
  3. Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Portici, 80055 Naples, Italy.
  4. Azienda Sanitaria Locale Avellino (Ariano Irpino), 83031 Avellino, Italy.
PMID35681922 DOI10.3390/ani12111459 Year2022 Journal Animals : an open access journal from MDPI Animals (Basel) Languageeng Publication statusActive
Active Last checked 2026-10-04 03:30:35 Source: NCBI PubMed

Abstract

Following the COVID-19 epidemic outbreak in Ariano Irpino, Campania region (Italy), we tested lactating cows for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 on a cattle farm at which, prior to the investigation, 13 of the 20 farmworkers showed COVID-19-like symptoms, and one of them died. Twenty-four lactating cows were sampled to detect SARS-CoV-2. All nasal and rectal swabs and milk samples were negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Of the 24 collected serum samples, 11 showed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein, 14 showed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, and 13 developed neutralising antibodies for SARS-COV-2; all samples were negative for Bovine Coronavirus (BCoV), another betacoronavirus. To our knowledge, this is the first report of natural serological evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in lactating cows. We hypothesise that this may be a case of reverse zoonosis. However, the role of cattle in SARS-CoV-2 infection and transmission seems to be negligible.

Supporting text Virus Host Location
cattle 136 COVID-19 470 farmworkers 1 reverse zoonosis 38 SARS-CoV-2 556 serology 50

Evidence records

4 total
Zoonotic Surveillance
4 records · 2 evidence types
Evidence type Viral Detection
1 records
OVE6052 Viral Detection
Key finding

All nasal and rectal swabs and milk samples from lactating cows in Ariano Irpino, Campania region (Italy) were negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA.

Virus
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Host
domestic cattle Bos taurus Natural host
Location
Italy
Supporting text

Following the COVID-19 epidemic outbreak in Ariano Irpino, Campania region (Italy), we tested lactating cows for the presence of SARS-CoV-2. All nasal and rectal swabs and milk samples were negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA.

Method
RNA detection | RT-PCR
Sample type
nasal swabs | rectal swabs | milk samples
Geographic raw
Ariano Irpino, Campania region (Italy)
Country inferred
ITA
Evidence type Serological Evidence
3 records
OVE6050 Serological Evidence
Key finding

Lactating cows in Ariano Irpino, Italy, showed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid and spike proteins and developed neutralising antibodies.

Virus
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Host
domestic cattle Bos taurus Natural host
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

Twenty-four lactating cows were sampled to detect SARS-CoV-2. Of the 24 collected serum samples, 11 showed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein, 14 showed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, and 13 developed neutralising antibodies for SARS-COV-2.

Method
antibody detection | neutralisation assay
Sample type
serum samples
OVE6051 Serological Evidence
Key finding

All lactating cow serum samples were negative for Bovine Coronavirus antibodies.

Virus
Bovine coronavirus
Host
domestic cattle Bos taurus Natural host
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

Twenty-four lactating cows were sampled to detect SARS-CoV-2. Of the 24 collected serum samples, 11 showed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein, 14 showed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, and 13 developed neutralising antibodies for SARS-COV-2; all samples were negative for Bovine Coronavirus (BCoV), another betacoronavirus.

Method
antibody detection
Sample type
serum samples
OVE6053 Serological Evidence
Key finding

Authors hypothesised that SARS-CoV-2 infection detected serologically in lactating cows near Ariano Irpino, Campania region (Italy), may have resulted from a reverse zoonosis from infected farmworkers.

Virus
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Host
human Homo sapiens Natural host domestic cattle Bos taurus Natural host
Location
Italy
Supporting text

Following the COVID-19 epidemic outbreak in Ariano Irpino, Campania region (Italy), we tested lactating cows for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 on a cattle farm at which, prior to the investigation, 13 of the 20 farmworkers showed COVID-19-like symptoms, and one of them died. We hypothesise that this may be a case of reverse zoonosis.

Method
serological detection | antibody testing (nucleocapsid and spike) | neutralisation assay