Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in respiratory samples from cats in the UK associated with human-to-cat transmission.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The aim of the study was to find evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in UK cats.

Design

Tissue samples were tested for SARS-CoV-2 antigen using immunofluorescence and for viral RNA by in situ hybridisation. A set of 387 oropharyngeal swabs that had been submitted for routine respiratory pathogen testing was tested for SARS-CoV-2 RNA using reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR.

Results

Lung tissue collected post-mortem from cat 1 tested positive for both SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antigen and RNA. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in an oropharyngeal swab collected from cat 2 that presented with rhinitis and conjunctivitis. High throughput sequencing of the viral genome revealed five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) compared to the nearest UK human SARS-CoV-2 seq

SUBMITTER: Hosie MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8251078 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature