OmniVira

Literature detail

High Seroprevalence against SARS-CoV-2 among Dogs and Cats, Poland, 2021/2022.

Edyta Kaczorek-Łukowska1 Kerstin Wernike2 Martin Beer2 Małgorzata Wróbel1 Joanna Małaczewska1 Elżbieta Mikulska-Skupień3 Karolina Malewska4 Izabela Mielczarska5 Andrzej Krzysztof Siwicki1
Affiliations 5 institutions
  1. Department of Microbiology and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 13, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland.
  2. Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
  3. Veterinary Health Center "Lion", Wilczyńskiego 26, 10-686 Olsztyn, Poland.
  4. Veterinary Polyclinic, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 14, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland.
  5. Tri-City Veterinary Clinic, Świętokrzyska 33A, 80-041 Gdańsk, Poland.
PMID 36009608 2022 Animals (Basel) eng epublish
PubMed DOI Browse context

Article

Publication summary

The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is responsible for a pandemic in the human population that has unfolded since the beginning of 2020 and has led to millions of deaths globally. Apart from humans, SARS-CoV-2 has been confirmed in various animal species, including felines, canines, mustelids, and primates. Of these species, dogs and cats are the most popular companion animals worldwide. Several seroprevalence studies have already been performed in these animal species; however, the results vary depending on the location and especially the time of sampling. Here, serum samples were collected from a total of 388 dogs and 243 cats from three veterinary clinics in two cities (Gdańsk and Olsztyn) in Poland between October 2021 and February 2022, when the country was in the midst of the fourth wave of viral spread. All sera were tested for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 by a multispecies ELISA based on the receptor-binding domain and by an indirect immunofluorescence assay (iIFA). Overall, 18.9% of the feline sera and 16.0% of the canine sera tested positive using ELISA and iIFA. This relatively high seroprevalence among randomly selected animals is most likely related to the high case numbers in the human population and indicates a continuous occurrence of transspecies virus transmissions from infected owners to their pets. Hence, dogs and cats should be included in monitoring studies and/or outbreak investigations for a better understanding of the epidemiology of this virus.

cat coronavirus COVID-19 dog prevalence SARS-CoV-2 serology

Structured evidence records

Evidence records

6 total
Serological Evidence 2 records
Serological Evidence Extraction confidence 1.00
Key finding

Dogs and cats in Poland showed 18.9% and 16.0% seroprevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, respectively, suggesting transspecies transmission from humans to pets.

Virus
SARS-CoV-2
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

Serum samples were collected from a total of 388 dogs and 243 cats ... All sera were tested for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 by a multispecies ELISA ... Overall, 18.9% of the feline sera and 16.0% of the canine sera tested positive using ELISA and iIFA.

Method
ELISA; indirect immunofluorescence assay (iIFA)
Sample type
serum
Serological Evidence Extraction confidence 1.00
Key finding

Cats in Poland showed 18.9% seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, consistent with exposure likely originating from infected humans.

Virus
SARS-CoV-2
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

Serum samples were collected from a total of 388 dogs and 243 cats ... All sera were tested for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 by a multispecies ELISA ... Overall, 18.9% of the feline sera and 16.0% of the canine sera tested positive using ELISA and iIFA.

Method
ELISA; indirect immunofluorescence assay (iIFA)
Sample type
serum
Spillover Event 2 records
Spillover Event Extraction confidence 0.90
Key finding

Antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 were detected in dogs and cats in Poland, suggesting transmission from infected humans to companion animals.

Virus
SARS-CoV-2
Location
Poland Poland
Supporting text

This relatively high seroprevalence among randomly selected animals is most likely related to the high case numbers in the human population and indicates a continuous occurrence of transspecies virus transmissions from infected owners to their pets.

Method
ELISA; indirect immunofluorescence assay
Study design
serological survey
Transmission direction
human-to-animal
Geographic raw
Poland
Country inferred
Poland
Spillover Event Extraction confidence 0.90
Key finding

Antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 were detected in cats in Poland, consistent with transmission from infected humans.

Virus
SARS-CoV-2
Location
Poland Poland
Supporting text

This relatively high seroprevalence among randomly selected animals is most likely related to the high case numbers in the human population and indicates a continuous occurrence of transspecies virus transmissions from infected owners to their pets.

Method
ELISA; indirect immunofluorescence assay
Study design
serological survey
Transmission direction
human-to-animal
Geographic raw
Poland
Country inferred
Poland
Zoonotic Surveillance 2 records
Zoonotic Surveillance Extraction confidence 0.95
Key finding

Serological testing showed SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in 16% of dogs sampled in Poland during 2021–2022.

Virus
SARS-CoV-2
Location
Poland Poland
Supporting text

Serum samples were collected from a total of 388 dogs and 243 cats from three veterinary clinics in two cities (Gdańsk and Olsztyn) in Poland between October 2021 and February 2022. All sera were tested for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 by a multispecies ELISA and by an indirect immunofluorescence assay.

Method
ELISA; indirect immunofluorescence assay
Sample type
serum
Geographic raw
Poland
Country inferred
Poland
Zoonotic Surveillance Extraction confidence 0.95
Key finding

Serological testing showed SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in 18.9% of cats sampled in Poland during 2021–2022.

Virus
SARS-CoV-2
Location
Poland Poland
Supporting text

Serum samples were collected from a total of 388 dogs and 243 cats from three veterinary clinics in two cities (Gdańsk and Olsztyn) in Poland between October 2021 and February 2022. All sera were tested for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 by a multispecies ELISA and by an indirect immunofluorescence assay.

Method
ELISA; indirect immunofluorescence assay
Sample type
serum
Geographic raw
Poland
Country inferred
Poland