Summary
After its first description in Wuhan (China), SARS-CoV-2 the agent of
coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) rapidly spread worldwide. Previous
studies suggested that pets could be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2. Here, we
investigated the putative infection by SARS-CoV-2 in 22 cats and 11 dogs
from owners previously infected or suspected of being infected by
SARS-CoV-2. For each animal, rectal, nasopharyngeal swabs and serum were
taken. Swabs were submitted to RT-qPCR assays targeting 2 genes of
SARS-CoV-2.
All dogs were tested SARS-CoV-2 negative. One cat was tested positive by
RT-qPCR on rectal swab. Nasopharyngeal swabs from this animal were
tested negative. This cat showed mild respiratory and digestive signs.
Serological analysis confirm the presence of antibodies against the
SARS-CoV-2 in the both serum samples taken 10 days apart. Genome
sequence analysis revealed that the cat SARS-CoV-2 belongs to the
phylogenetic clade A2a like most of the French human SARS-CoV-2.
This study reports for the first time the natural infection of a cat in
France (near Paris) probably through their owners. There is currently no
evidence that cats can spread COVID-19 and owners should not abandon
their pets or compromise their welfare.
Keywords : SARS-CoV-2; pets ; cats ; luminex ; ELISA ;
next-generation sequencing