OmniVira

Genomic investigation of a household SARS-CoV-2 disease cluster in Arizona involving a cat, dog, and pet owner.

Hayley D Yaglom1 Gavriella Hecht2 Andrew Goedderz1 Daniel Jasso-Selles1 Jennifer L Ely1 Irene Ruberto2 Jolene R Bowers1 David M Engelthaler1 Heather Venkat2,3
Affiliations 3 institutions
  1. Translational Genomics Research Institute, Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, 3051 W. Shamrell Blvd Ste. 106, Flagstaff, AZ 86005, USA.
  2. Arizona Department of Health Services, Office of Infectious Disease Services, 150 North 18th Avenue, Suite 140, Phoenix, AZ 85007, United States of America.
  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Center for Preparedness and Response, Career Epidemiology Field Officer Program, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
PMID34604494 DOI10.1016/j.onehlt.2021.100333 Year2021 Journal One health (Amsterdam, Netherlands) One Health Languageeng Statusppublish

Abstract

Arizona's COVID-19 and Pets Program is a prospective surveillance study being conducted to characterize how SARS-CoV-2 impacts companion animals living in households with SARS-CoV-2-positive individuals. Among the enrolled pets, we identified a SARS-CoV-2-infected cat and dog from the same household; both animals were asymptomatic but had close contact with the symptomatic and SARS-CoV-2-positive owner. Whole genome sequencing of animal and owner specimens revealed identical viral genomes of the B.1.575 lineage, suggesting zoonotic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from human to at least one pet. This is the first report of the B.1.575 lineage in companion animals. Genetically linking SARS-CoV-2 between people and animals, and tracking changes in SARS-CoV-2 genomes is essential to detect any cross-species SARS-CoV-2 transmission that may lead to more transmissible or severe variants that can affect humans. Surveillance studies, including genomic analyses of owner and pet specimens, are needed to further our understanding of how SARS-CoV-2 impacts companion animals.

Supporting text Virus Host Location
Companion animals 13 Genomic sequencing 2 One health 98 Pets 31 RT-PCR, Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction 1 SARS-CoV-2 550

Evidence records

3 total
Zoonotic Surveillance
1 records · 1 evidence types
Evidence type Viral Detection
1 records
OVE5202 Viral Detection
Key finding

SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in a cat and a dog from the same household as an infected owner.

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

Among the enrolled pets, we identified a SARS-CoV-2-infected cat and dog from the same household; both animals were asymptomatic but had close contact with the symptomatic and SARS-CoV-2-positive owner.

Method
whole genome sequencing
Sample type
animal specimens
Transmission Evidence
1 records · 1 evidence types
Evidence type Cross-species Transmission
1 records
OVE5203 Cross-species Transmission
Key finding

Whole genome sequencing showed identical SARS-CoV-2 B.1.575 lineage genomes in a symptomatic owner and their cat and dog, supporting human-to-pet transmission.

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

Whole genome sequencing of animal and owner specimens revealed identical viral genomes of the B.1.575 lineage, suggesting zoonotic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from human to at least one pet.

Method
whole genome sequencing | genomic comparison
Study design
prospective household surveillance cluster investigation
Transmission direction
human-to-animal
Geographic raw
Arizona
Genomic Evolution
1 records · 1 evidence types
Evidence type Phylogenetic Evolution
1 records
OVE5204 Phylogenetic Evolution
Key finding

Whole genome sequencing showed identical SARS-CoV-2 B.1.575 lineage genomes in the infected cat, dog, and their owner, indicating a shared viral lineage among human and companion animals.

Virus
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Host
domestic cat Felis catus Natural host dog Canis lupus familiaris Natural host human Homo sapiens Natural host
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

Whole genome sequencing of animal and owner specimens revealed identical viral genomes of the B.1.575 lineage, suggesting zoonotic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from human to at least one pet. This is the first report of the B.1.575 lineage in companion animals.

Genes or proteins
whole genome
Analysis methods
whole genome sequencing