SARS‐CoV‐2 infection of companion animals in Egypt and its risk of spillover

• Published in: Veterinary medicine and science Vol. 9; no. 1; pp. 13 - 24
• Main Authors: Hamdy, Mervat E., El‐Deeb, Ayman H., Hagag, Naglaa M., Shahein, Momtaz A., Liyanage, Namal P. M., Shalaan, Mohamed, Hussein, Hussein A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01-01-2023; John Wiley and Sons Inc; Wiley
• Subjects: Animals; CATS; companion animals; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 - veterinary; Cross-Sectional Studies; Disease transmission; DNA sequencing; Dog Diseases - epidemiology; Dogs; Egypt - epidemiology; Enzymes; Ferritin; Gene amplification; Genomes; Homology; Humans; Infections; Lymphopenia; Mutation; Mutation rates; Original; Pathology; Pets; Phylogenetics; Proteins; RNA polymerase; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; spillover; Thrombocytopenia; Viral infections; Viral Zoonoses; Zoonoses; Egypt; Cairo Egypt; United States > US; China; Japan; Giza Egypt; Hong Kong China; Switzerland; COVID-19; spillover; SARS-CoV-2; companion animals
• ISSN: 2053-1095; 2053-1095
• DOI: 10.1002/vms3.1029

Background
Reverse zoonoses occur because of interactions between humans and animals. Homology of ACE‐2 cell receptors in different hosts and high mutation rate of SARS‐CoV‐2 enhance viral transmission among species.
Objectives
This study aimed to investigate spillover of SARS‐CoV‐2 between humans and companion animals.
Methods
A cross‐sectional study was constructed using nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal swabs, serum and blood samples collected from 66 companion animals (33 cats and 33 dogs) that were in contact with SARS‐CoV‐2‐positive owners from December 2020 to March 2021. Swabs were screened by rRT‐PCR and some positive cases were confirmed by partial spike gene sequencing. Clinical pathology and pathological studies were also performed.
Results
Our findings revealed that 30% of cats (10/33) and 24% of dogs (8/33) were SARS‐CoV‐2 positive. While 33% of these animals were asymptomatic (6/18), 28% showed mild respiratory signs (5/18) and 39% displayed severe respiratory signs (7/18) including 4 dead cats 40% (4/10). Partial spike gene sequencing of 6 positive samples collected in December 2020 were identical to SARS‐CoV‐2 that was detected in humans in Egypt in that time frame. Clinical pathology findings revealed thrombocytopenia, lymphocytopenia, as well as elevated levels of D‐dimer, LDH, CRP, and ferritin. Post‐mortem and histopathological examinations illustrated multisystemic effects.
Conclusions
There is a potential occurrence of SARS‐CoV‐2 spillover between humans and pet animals.
Impacts
The present study highlighted the potential occurrence of SARS‐CoV‐2 spillover between humans and their companion animals.
Biosecurity measures should be applied to decrease spread of SARS‐CoV‐2 among humans and pet animals.
Graphical depicts SARS‐CoV‐2 spillover in humans and their pet animals with common symptoms. Besides, it illustrates number of SARS‐CoV‐2‐infected cats and dogs with severity of respiratory signs.