Cohort - Sample collection
A total of 22 cats and 11 dogs were sampled from veterinary clinics (in the Paris or Grand Est area) or the pet hospital of the Alfort veterinary school (CHUVA) in April 2020. All animals selected in this study showed clinical signs and belonged to owners confirmed or suspected of having COVID-19. The clinical pictures reported were anorexia, hyperthermia, lethargy, diarrhoea, cough, bronchopneumonia, respiratory distress. Cats and dogs ranged in age from 6 months to 16 years and 2.5 months to 14 years respectively.
Serum, nasopharyngeal (NP) and rectal (R) swabs were collected and stored at -80°C until analysis. The time between sampling and the appearance of the first symptoms ranged from 0 to 21 days depending on the animals.