Molecular detection and characterization of SARS-CoV-2 in cats and dogs of positive owners during the first COVID-19 wave in Brazil
Juliana Arena Galhardo, David Soeiro Barbosa, Louise Bach Kmetiuk, Otávio Carvalho, Ana Izabel Passarella Teixeira, Paula Luize Camargos Fonseca, Luíza Campos Guerra de Araújo e Santos, Daniel Costa Queiroz, João Victor Oliveira Miranda, Aluisio Pereira da Silva Filho, Anisleidy Pérez Castillo, Ricardo N. Araújo, Júlia Angélica Gonçalves da Silveira, Luiz Eduardo Ristow, Daniel Friguglietti Brandespim, Christina Pettan-Brewer, Ana M. S. Guimarães, Valéria Dutra, Hélio Autran de Morais, Andrea Pires dos Santos, Rafael Garabet Agopian, Renato Santana Aguiar, Alexander Welker Biondo
Abstract
Despite previous reports of SARS-CoV-2 infection in dogs and cats worldwide, the type of swab sample used for its detection through RT-qPCR needs to be better compared and described. Accordingly, as part of a multicenter study in Brazil, the aim of the present study was to assess which rectal or oropharyngeal swabs would be more appropriate for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in cats and dogs, through viral load comparison. Pets of owners diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last 7 days were eligible. A total of 148 animals from four of the five Brazilian geographical regions were analyzed, among which 10/48 cats (20.83%) and 11/100 dogs (11.00%) were positive. The results suggested that oropharyngeal swabs should be considered for SARS-CoV-2 detection, particularly in cats, due to the higher cDNA viral load. Also, the genomic results showed similarities between SARS-CoV-2 animal variants and human variants that were circulating at the time of sampling, thus corroborating the existence of zooanthroponotic transmission. In conclusion, the present study highlighted the importance of SARS-CoV-2 monitoring among cats and dogs, as virus modification may indicate the possibility of mutations in animals and spillover back to owners. Thus, positive individuals should always self-isolate from their pets during COVID-19, to prevent trans-species transmission and mutation.