biostudies-literatureZhang YHuazhong Agricultural UniversityHubei Province1568-1576https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9047237biostudies-literatureUnknown226(9)Isolated reports of new-onset diabetes in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have led researchers to hypothesize that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infects human exocrine and endocrine pancreatic cells ex vivo and in vivo. However, existing research lacks experimental evidence indicating that SARS-CoV-2 can infect pancreatic tissue. Here, we found that cats infected with a high dose of SARS-CoV-2 exhibited hyperglycemia. We also detected SARS-CoV-2 RNA in pancreatic tissues of these cats, and immunohistochemical staining revealed the presence of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein (NP) in islet cells. SARS-CoV-2 NP and spike proteins were primarily detected in glucagon-positive cells, and most glucagon-positive cells expressed ACE2. Additionally, iThe Journal of infectious diseasesSARS-CoV-2 Infection Causes Hyperglycemia in Cats.PMC90472372020FCA0462662020PY002Zhao LZWu CGao JHuang KSun XZhao YHu CZou ZYang YZhang YWang TJin MHui XChen XfalseSARS-CoV-2 Infection Causes Hyperglycemia in Cats.Isolated reports of new-onset diabetes in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have led researchers to hypothesize that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infects human exocrine and endocrine pancreatic cells ex vivo and in vivo. However, existing research lacks experimental evidence indicating that SARS-CoV-2 can infect pancreatic tissue. Here, we found that cats infected with a high dose of SARS-CoV-2 exhibited hyperglycemia. We also detected SARS-CoV-2 RNA in pancreatic tissues of these cats, and immunohistochemical staining revealed the presence of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein (NP) in islet cells. SARS-CoV-2 NP and spike proteins were primarily detected in glucagon-positive cells, and most glucagon-positive cells expressed ACE2. Additionally, i2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Nov2025-04-04T09:10:08.448Z2025-02-19T03:58:52.494ZS-EPMC90472373563986310.1093/infdis/jiac143