Human-to-Cat SARS-CoV-2 Transmission: Case Report and Full-Genome Sequencing from an Infected Pet and Its Owner in Northern Italy
Gabriele Pagani, Alessia Lai, Annalisa Bergna, Alberto Rizzo, Angelica Stranieri, Alessia Giordano, Saverio Paltrinieri, Davide Lelli, Nicola Decaro, Stefano Rusconi, Maria Rita Gismondo, Spinello Antinori, Stefania Lauzi, Massimo Galli, Gianguglielmo Zehender
Abstract
There have been previous reports of the human-to-cat transmission of SARS-CoV-2, but there are only a few molecular studies that have compared the whole genome of the virus in cats and their owners. We here describe a case of domestic SARS-CoV-2 transmission from a healthcare worker to his cat for which nasopharyngeal swabs of both the cat and its owner were used for full-genome analysis. The results indicate that quarantine measures should be extended to pets living in SARS-CoV-2-infected households.