ABSTRACT
SARS-CoV-2 infects several animal species and SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) may even show (as in humans) enhanced inter- and intra-species transmission rates. We correlated sensitivity data of SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen tests (RATs) to viral RNA genome equivalents analyzed by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Further, we checked their suitability for testing animals by assessing saliva and VOC effects. Viral loads up to 2 logs (RNA copy number) under the hypothetical SARS-CoV-2 infectivity threshold were detected by most analyzed RATs. However, while saliva from various animal species showed generally no adverse effects on the RATs' analytical sensitivities, the detection of VOCs B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 was in some RATs inferior to non-VOC viruses.
Subject(s)
Antigens, Viral/isolation & purification , COVID-19 Serological Testing/veterinary , COVID-19/veterinary , Genetic Variation , SARS-CoV-2/isolation & purification , Saliva/virology , Animals , COVID-19/diagnosis , COVID-19/virology , COVID-19 Serological Testing/standards , Chlorocebus aethiops , RNA, Viral/genetics , Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction/veterinary , SARS-CoV-2/genetics , SARS-CoV-2/immunology , Vero Cells , Viral Load/veterinaryABSTRACT
SARS-CoV-2-antigen-testing has been proposed as a 'game-changing' tool to interrupt infection chains. Thereby European strategies focused on two pillars, namely rapid antigen tests conducted by health care experts and/or trained personal and so-called self-tests. Here, evidence is provided that these assays have a weak performance even under laboratory conditions.