Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection and co-infections in stray cats in Brazil

• Published in: Acta tropica Vol. 249; p. 107056
• Main Authors: Castillo, Anisleidy Pérez, Miranda, Joao Victor Oliveira, Fonseca, Paula Luize Camargos, Silva, Soraia de Oliveira, Lopes, Rosálida Estevam Nazar, Spanhol, Viviane Campos, Moreira, Rennan Garcias, Nicolino, Rafael Romero, Queiroz, Daniel Costa, de Araújo e Santos, Luiza Campos Guerra, dos Santos, Anna Pio Soares, Rivetti, Hugo Adriano Araújo, Martins-Duarte, Erica S., de Almeida Vitor, Ricardo Wagner, dos Reis, Jenner Karlisson Pimenta, Aguiar, Renato Santana, da Silveira, Júlia Angélica Gonçalves
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-01-2024
• Subjects: Coronavirus; Hemopathogens; Molecular diagnostic; PCR; Retroviruses; Sequencing; Coronavirus; Retroviruses; Molecular diagnostic; Hemopathogens; Sequencing; PCR
• ISSN: 0001-706X; 1873-6254
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.107056

•Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA (Delta Variant) in cats in an urban park.•Identification of coinfection between SARS-CoV-2 and hemopathogens.•There was no association between SARS-CoV-2 positivity and the coinfection with detected hemopathogens.•First molecular characterization of Leishmania infantum and Bartonella spp in cats in the municipal park in Belo Horizonte.
The zoonotic virus SARS-CoV-2, which causes severe acute respiratory syndrome in humans (COVID-19), has been identified in cats. Notably, most positive cases were in cats that had close contact with infected humans, suggesting a role for humans in animal transmission routes. Previous studies have suggested that animals with immune depletion are more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. To date, there is limited evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infections in stray and free-range cats affected by other pathogens. In this study, we investigated infections caused by SARS-CoV-2, Leishmania spp., Toxoplasma gondii, Mycoplasma spp., Bartonella spp., Feline leukemia virus (FeLV), and Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) in stray cats from an urban park in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic. From February to September 2021, 78 mixed-breed cats were tested for SARS-CoV-2 and hemopathogens using molecular analysis at Américo Renné Giannetti Municipal Park, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect IgG in T. gondii. None of the animals in this study showed any clinical signs of infections. The SARS-CoV-2 virus RNA was detected in 7.7 % of cats, and a whole virus genome sequence analysis revealed the SARS-CoV-2 Delta lineage (B.1.617.2). Phylogenetic analysis showed that SARS-CoV-2 isolated from cats was grouped into the sublineage AY.99.2, which matches the epidemiological scenario of COVID-19 in the urban area of our study. Leishmania infantum was detected and sequenced in 9 % of cats. The seroprevalence of T. gondii was 23.1 %. Hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. was detected in 7.7 % of the cats, with Mycoplasma haemofelis and Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum being the most common. Bartonella henselae and Bartonella clarridgeiae were detected in 38.5 % of the cats, FeLV was detected in 17,9 %, and none of the cats studied tested positive for FIV. This study reports, for the first time, the SARS-CoV-2 infection with whole-genome sequencing in stray cats in southeastern Brazil and co-infection with other pathogens, including Bartonella spp. and Feline leukemia virus. Our study observed no correlation between SARS-CoV-2 and the other detected pathogens. Our results emphasize the importance of monitoring SARS-CoV-2 in stray cats to characterize their epidemiological role in SARS-CoV-2 infection and reinforce the importance of zoonotic disease surveillance.
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