SARS-CoV-2 Infections and Viral Isolations among Serially Tested Cats and Dogs in Households with Infected Owners in Texas, USA.
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Understanding the ecological and epidemiological roles of pets in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is critical for animal and human health, identifying household reservoirs, and predicting the potential enzootic maintenance of the virus. We conducted a longitudinal household transmission study of 76 dogs and cats living with at least one SARS-CoV-2-infected human in Texas and found that 17 pets from 25.6% of 39 households met the national case definition for SARS-CoV-2 infections in animals. This includes three out of seventeen (17.6%) cats and one out of fifty-nine (1.7%) dogs that were positive by RT-PCR and sequencing, with the virus successfully isolated from the respiratory swabs of one cat and one dog. Whole-genome sequences of SARS-CoV-2 obtained from all four PCR-positive animals were unique variants grouping with genomes circulating among people with COVID-19 in Texas. Re-sampling showed persistence of viral RNA for at least 25 d-post initial test. Additionally, seven out of sixteen (43.8%) cats and seven out of fifty-nine (11.9%) dogs harbored SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies upon initial sampling, with relatively stable or increasing titers over the 2-3 months of follow-up and no evidence of seroreversion. The majority (82.4%) of infected pets were asymptomatic. 'Reverse zoonotic' transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from infected people to animals may occur more frequently than recognized.
Hamer, S. A., Pauvolid-Corra, A., Zecca, I. B., Davila, E., Auckland, L. D., Roundy, C. M., ... Hamer, G. L.
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Hamer, Sarah A||Pauvolid-Corrêa, Alex||Zecca, Italo B||Davila, Edward||Auckland, Lisa D||Roundy, Christopher M||Tang, Wendy||Torchetti, Mia Kim||Killian, Mary Lea||Jenkins-Moore, Melinda||Mozingo, Katie||Akpalu, Yao||Ghai, Ria R||Spengler, Jessica R||Barton Behravesh, Casey||Fischer, Rebecca SB||Hamer, Gabriel L
