Introduction
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute
respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first reported in
Wuhan (Zhou et al, 2020; Wu et al, 2020), China, and rapidly spread
worldwide. Previous studies suggested cats could be a susceptible
species to SARS-CoV-2 (Zhang, Q. et al 2020, Chi et al 2020). Two cases
of natural infection in dogs, without symptoms, were also reported in
Hong Kong (Sit el al , 2020). Only 4 naturally infected cats have
been reported to date (promed posts or OIE notifications). Among them,
two exhibited cough and another one mild respiratory and digestive
signs. SARS-CoV-2 infection was also reported in lions and tigers in the
zoo in New-York, suggesting susceptibility of wild Felidae to
this virus.
We investigated the putative infection by SARS-CoV-2 in cats and dogs
from owners previously confirmed or suspected of being infected with
COVID-19. Among them, one cat was tested positive by RT-qPCR on rectal
swabs and serological analysis. The SARS-CoV-2 genome has been almost
completely sequenced, and clusters with the French human sequences
circulating among infected humans.