Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
SARS-CoV-2 antibody rates in cats dogs and rabbits in Poland
By Pomorska-Mól, Małgorzata et al.·Published in BMC veterinary research·2021·Department of Preclinical Sciences and Infectious Diseases·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: A cross-sectional retrospective study of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in  domestic cats, dogs and rabbits in Poland.
Plain-English summary
A study found that a small number of domestic cats and dogs in Poland tested positive for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Specifically, 1.79% of cats and 1.17% of dogs had these antibodies, indicating they had been exposed to the virus. Importantly, none of the animals showed any signs of illness, such as breathing problems or gastrointestinal issues, at the time of testing. This suggests that while pets can get infected, serious health effects are rare.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Coronaviruses (CoVs) have long been known to cause infection in domestic and free-living birds and mammals including humans. The zoonotic origin of SARS-CoV-2 and the biological properties of CoVs, including ability to cross interspecies barriers, enable its emergence in populations of various animals, including companion animals (cats, dogs, rabbits) an area requiring further study. To date, several cases of cats and dogs positive for SARS-CoV-2 and/or specific antibodies have been described. The aim of our cross-sectional retrospective study is to determine seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in domestic dog, cat and rabbit population during recent COVID-19 pandemic in Poland. RESULTS: In total, serum samples from 279 cats and 343 dogs and 29 rabbits were used in the study. The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in cats and dogs reached 1.79% (95% CI: 0.77 - 4.13) and 1.17% (95% CI 0.45 - 2.96), respectively (p ≥ 0.05). Anti- SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detected in 5 cats (mean S/P% 106 ± 48.23) and 4 dogs (mean S/P% 78.5 ± 16.58). All 29 samples from rabbits were negative for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. No significant gender or age differences in seroprevalence in dogs and cats (p ≥ 0.05) were found. None of the animals with anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies displayed respiratory or gastrointestinal signs at the time of sampling. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirmed previous findings that SARS-CoV-2 infections in companion animals occurs but are not frequent. Future serological testing of large pet population may provide a comprehensive picture of disease dynamics in companion animals.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34620166/