Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How common was COVID-19 in dog and cat respiratory tests early 2020
By Michael, H T et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2021·IDEXX Laboratories, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Frequency of respiratory pathogens and SARS-CoV-2 in canine and feline samples submitted for respiratory testing in early 2020.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A study looked at respiratory issues in dogs and cats during early 2020, when concerns about the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) were rising. Out of nearly 4,600 samples tested, many pets had common respiratory infections caused by bacteria and viruses, but none tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. This means that during that time, typical respiratory illnesses were more common in pets than the coronavirus. The findings suggest that pet owners should focus on known respiratory pathogens rather than worrying about COVID-19 in their animals.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The emergence of the 2019 novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has necessitated evaluation of the potential for SARS-CoV-2 infection in dogs and cats. Using a large data set, we evaluated the frequency of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory pathogens in samples submitted for respiratory testing from mid-February to mid-April 2020. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A SARS-CoV-2 real-time PCR was developed and validated. A subset of canine and feline samples submitted for respiratory pathogen panel testing to reference laboratories in Asia, Europe, and North America were also tested for SARS-CoV-2. The frequency of respiratory pathogens was compared for the February-April period of 2020 and 2019. RESULTS: Samples from 4616 patients were included in the study and 44% of canine and 69% of feline samples were PCR positive with Mycoplasma cynos and Bordetella bronchiseptica and Mycoplasma felis and feline calicivirus, respectively. No SARS-CoV-2 infections were identified. Positive results for respiratory samples were similar between years. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The data in this study suggest that during the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in early 2020, respiratory diseases in tested pet cats and dogs were caused by common veterinary pathogens and that SARS-CoV-2 infections in dogs and cats are rare.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33521974/