Understanding the ecological and epidemiological roles of pets in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is critical for animal and human health, identifying household reservoirs, and predicting the potential enzootic maintenance of the virus. We conducted a longitudinal household transmission study of 76 dogs and cats living with at least one SARS-CoV-2-infected human in Texas and found that 17 pets from 25.6% of 39 households met the national case definition for SARS-CoV-2 infections in animals. This includes three out of seventeen (17.6%) cats and one out of fifty-nine (1.7%) dogs that were positive by RT-PCR and sequencing, with the virus successfully isolated from the respiratory swabs of one cat and one dog. Whole-genome sequences of SARS-CoV-2 obtained from all four PCR-positive animals were unique variants grouping with genomes circulating among people with COVID-19 in Texas. Re-sampling showed persistence of viral RNA for at least 25 d-post initial test. Additionally, seven out of sixteen (43.8%) cats and seven out of fifty-nine (11.9%) dogs harbored SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies upon initial sampling, with relatively stable or increasing titers over the 2–3 months of follow-up and no evidence of seroreversion. The majority (82.4%) of infected pets were asymptomatic. ‘Reverse zoonotic’ transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from infected people to animals may occur more frequently than recognized.
【저자키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, Neutralizing antibodies, cats, dogs, reverse zoonosis, virus isolation, 【초록키워드】 SARS-COV-2 infection, Sequencing, Genome, variant, RT-PCR, virus, Health, Viral, Asymptomatic, cats, animals, persistence, understanding, household transmission, whole-genome sequences, sampling, epidemiological, Viral RNA, genomes, Follow-up, Swab, respiratory, Critical, SARS-CoV-2 infections, SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies, SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody, Evidence, evidence of, no evidence of, PCR-positive, sequence, circulating, National, positive, seroreversion, reservoirs, transmission of SARS-CoV-2, Seven, initial, include, conducted, majority, occur, unique, ecological, people with COVID-19, 【제목키워드】 household, dog, USA,