Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
SARS-CoV-2 in dogs and cats - what to know about symptoms and risks
By Liew, Amanda Y et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2023·1CDC·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Clinical and epidemiologic features of SARS-CoV-2 in dogs and cats compiled through national surveillance in the United States.
Plain-English summary
A study found that many dogs and cats can get COVID-19 after being around someone who has it, with 94% of infected pets having been exposed to a person with the virus. Symptoms were seen in 74% of the pets, which lasted about 12 days for dogs and 15 days for cats. The virus was first detected in pets just three days after exposure, and their bodies started producing antibodies five days later. This highlights the importance of monitoring both pets and people to understand how the virus spreads.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To characterize clinical and epidemiologic features of SARS-CoV-2 in companion animals detected through both passive and active surveillance in the US. ANIMALS: 204 companion animals (109 cats, 95 dogs) across 33 states with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections between March 2020 and December 2021. PROCEDURES: Public health officials, animal health officials, and academic researchers investigating zoonotic SARS-CoV-2 transmission events reported clinical, laboratory, and epidemiologic information through a standardized One Health surveillance process developed by the CDC and partners. RESULTS: Among dogs and cats identified through passive surveillance, 94% (n = 87) had reported exposure to a person with COVID-19 before infection. Clinical signs of illness were present in 74% of pets identified through passive surveillance and 27% of pets identified through active surveillance. Duration of illness in pets averaged 15 days in cats and 12 days in dogs. The average time between human and pet onset of illness was 10 days. Viral nucleic acid was first detected at 3 days after exposure in both cats and dogs. Antibodies were detected starting 5 days after exposure, and titers were highest at 9 days in cats and 14 days in dogs. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results of the present study supported that cats and dogs primarily become infected with SARS-CoV-2 following exposure to a person with COVID-19, most often their owners. Case investigation and surveillance that include both people and animals are necessary to understand transmission dynamics and viral evolution of zoonotic diseases like SARS-CoV-2.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36595371/