Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Upper respiratory infections and co-infections in cats during COVID-19
By de Oliveira Santana, Weslei et al.·Published in Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]·2025·Biotechnology Institute, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Epidemiology and co-infection of URTD pathogens in domestic cats during COVID-19.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 120 cats showing symptoms of upper respiratory tract disease (URTD), like sneezing and nasal discharge, were tested during the COVID-19 pandemic in southern Brazil. Many of these cats had been in contact with people who had COVID-19. The most common infections found were feline herpesvirus-1 and feline calicivirus, with a significant number of cats having multiple infections at once. Non-neutered cats and those allowed outside were more likely to be infected. While there was concern about cats contracting SARS-CoV-2, only one cat tested positive for it. The study highlights the need to focus on common respiratory infections in cats, especially during health crises.
People also search for: cat sneezing treatment · upper respiratory infection in cats · feline herpesvirus symptoms · cat calicivirus treatment · why is my cat coughing
Abstract
This study investigated the prevalence of upper respiratory tract disease (URTD) pathogens in domestic cats during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in southern Brazil, focusing on the detection of feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1), feline calicivirus (FCV), Mycoplasma felis, Chlamydia felis, and SARS-CoV-2. A total of 120 cats presenting URTD symptoms and with recent contact (within 15 days) with SARS-CoV-2-positive tutors were analyzed. The detection rates were 38.3% for FHV-1, 34.1% for FCV, 43.3% for M. felis, 19.16% for C. felis, and 1.2% for SARS-CoV-2. Co-infections were common, affecting 64.45% of cases, with M. felis as the most frequent mono-infection and FHV-1 and M. felis as the predominant co-infection. Significant associations were observed between specific host factors and pathogen presence; non-neutered cats and those with outdoor access had higher odds of infection. Retroviral infections (FIV and FeLV) were found to increase susceptibility to URTD agents, particularly C. felis and FCV. Clinically, sneezing and nasal discharge were prevalent in over 90% of cases, and conjunctivitis was strongly linked to C. felis and FHV-1. Despite concerns surrounding the zoonotic potential of SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 pandemic, the virus played a limited role, as only one cat tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. These findings emphasize the importance of focusing on established URTD pathogens for feline health management, even amid global health events.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41405820/