Large-scale study on virological and serological prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in cats and dogs in Spain
Investigation article published in Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
July 1st, 2022
The disease produced by the severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is currently one of the primary concerns worldwide. Knowing the zoonotic origin of the disease and that several animal species, including dogs and cats, are susceptible to viral infection, it is critical to assess the relevance of pets in this pandemic. Here, we performed a large-scale study on SARS-CoV-2 serological and viral prevalence in cats and dogs in Spain in order to elucidate their role and susceptibility. Samples from animals in contact with COVID-19 positive people and/or compatible symptoms (n = 492), as well as from random animals (n = 1024), were taken. Despite the large number of animals analyzed, only 12 animals (eight dogs and four cats), which represents 0.79 % of the total analyzed animals (n = 1516), were positive for viral SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection by RT-qPCR, in which viral isolation was possible in four animals. We detected neutralizing antibodies in 34 animals, four of them also positive for PCR. This study evidences that pets are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection in natural conditions but at a low level, as evidenced by the low percentage of positive animals detected, being infected humans the main source of infection. However, the inclusion of animals in the surveillance of COVID-19 is still recommended. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
Barroso-Arevalo S., Barneto A., Ramos AM., Rivera B., Sanchez R., Sánchez-Morales L., Perez-Sancho M., Buendia A., Ferreras E., Ortiz-Menendez JC., Moreno I., Serres C., Vela C., Risalde MA., Dominguez L. and Sanchez-Vizcaino JM..
 | Departamento de Sanidad Animal. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad Complutense (UCM). |
| Clínica Veterinaria AyAVET. | |
| Facultad de Ciencias Matemáticas. Universidad Complutense (UCM). |
 | Sanidad y Biotecnología (SaBio). Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC). Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC). Universidad de Castilla La Mancha (UCLM). Gobierno de Castilla-La Mancha (JCCM). |
 | Servicio de Inmunología. Centro Nacional de Microbiología (CNM). Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII). |
| Departamento de Medicina y Cirugía Animal. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad Complutense (UCM). |
 | Inmunología y Genética Aplicada, S.A. (INGENASA). |
 | Departamento de Anatomía y Anatomía Patológica Comparadas. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad de Córdoba (UCO). |
| Departamento de Sanidad Animal. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad de Córdoba (UCO). |
| Instituto Maimonides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC). Universidad de Córdoba (UCO). |
| Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía de Córdoba. Universidad de Córdoba (UCO). |
| Servicio de Inmunología Viral y Medicina Preventiva (SUAT). Servicio de Zoonosis Emergentes, de Baja Prevalencia y Agresivos Biológicos (NED). Servicio de Identificación y Caracterización Microbiana (ICM). Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET). Universidad Complutense (UCM). |
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