ABSTRACT
A 12-year-old indoor cat showed severe respiratory symptoms such as sneezing, nasal discharge and cough. On Day 5 after disease onset, an oral swab was collected and a real-time RT-PCR test was performed to detect severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), indicating that the sample from the cat was positive for SARS-CoV-2 genes. Since the symptoms worsened on Day 8, a general physical examination, blood tests, chest x-rays and treatment were carried out and oral, nasal and rectal swabs were collected. Mild bronchitis and increased serum amyloid A (SAA) were observed, but it did not lead to pneumonia. In addition, whole-genome analysis revealed that it was the delta variant of SARS-CoV-2. Then the cat recovered, and a significant increase of virus-neutralizing antibody titer was observed in the convalescent serum. In conclusion, this is the first report on a cat with respiratory symptoms caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection in Japan.
ABSTRACT
We experienced a case of silent Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia that was found by an optional chest computed tomography (CT) scan during a health check. A 62-year-old man with a present medical history of hypertension visited the health screening center at Tokai University Tokyo Hospital on August 7th, 2020. Prior to entry into the hospital, his body temperature was measured and his history was obtained (called 'COVID-19 triage'), but there were no remarkable findings. Subsequently, patchy ground glass opacities were observed with peripheral distribution in bilateral multiple lobes. Based on this finding COVID-19 pneumonia was highly suspected. Subsequently, a PCR test was positive for COVID-19. Even in health check settings, we should be aware of possible encounters with COVID-19 infections. The high risk of silent spread plays a significant role in the ongoing pandemic. Chest CT scans, which can efficiently identify silent COVID-19 pneumonia, should be performed earlier during health check examinations, at least before gastroendoscopy, which causes significant droplet dispersion. Health check examination providers should not cancel or postpone health checks;rather, it is necessary for them to provide health check examinees with a safe environment with minimal delay in access to recommended health care services.