31% of pet dogs and 40% of pet cats tested positive to COVID-19 after their owners' own diagnoses, though under half displayed symptoms, say researchers in small Brazilian study.
Study details
Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 infection in dogs and cats of humans diagnosed with COVID-19 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Guilherme Amaral Calvet, Sandro Antonio Pereira, Maria Ogrzewalska, Alex Pauvolid-Corrêa, Paola Cristina Resende, Wagner de Souza Tassinari, Anielle de Pina Costa, Lucas Oliveira Keidel, Alice Sampaio Barreto da Rocha, Michele Fernanda Borges da Silva, Shanna Araujo dos Santos, Ana Beatriz Machado Lima, Isabella Campos Vargas de Moraes, Artur Augusto Velho Mendes Junior, Thiago das Chagas Souza, Ezequias Batista Martins, Renato Orsini Ornellas, Maria Lopes Corrêa, Isabela Maria da Silva Antonio, Lusiele Guaraldo, Fernando do Couto Motta, Patrícia Brasil, Marilda Mendonça Siqueira, Isabella Dib Ferreira Gremião, Rodrigo Caldas Menezes
Published in PLOS One on 28 April 2021
Abstract
Background
Infection by SARS-CoV-2 in domestic animals has been related to close contact with humans diagnosed with COVID-19.
Objectives
To assess the exposure, infection, and persistence by SARS-CoV-2 of dogs and cats living in the same households of humans that tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, and to investigate clinical and laboratory alterations associated with animal infection.
Methods
Animals living with COVID-19 patients were longitudinally followed and had nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal and rectal swabs collected and tested for SARS-CoV-2. Additionally, blood samples were collected for laboratory analysis, and plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT90) to investigate specific SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.
Results
Between May and October 2020, 39 pets (29 dogs and 10 cats) of 21 patients were investigated. Nine dogs (31%) and four cats (40%) from 10 (47.6%) households were infected with or seropositive for SARS-CoV-2. Animals tested positive from 11 to 51 days after the human index COVID-19 case onset of symptoms. Three dogs tested positive twice within 14, 30, and 31 days apart. SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies were detected in one dog (3.4%) and two cats (20%). In this study, six out of thirteen animals either infected with or seropositive for SARS-CoV-2 have developed mild but reversible signs of the disease. Using logistic regression analysis, neutering, and sharing bed with the ill owner were associated with pet infection.
Conclusions
The presence and persistence of SARS-CoV-2 infection have been identified in dogs and cats from households with human COVID-19 cases in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. People with COVID-19 should avoid close contact with their pets during the time of their illness.
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