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Objective: In the twenty-first century, despite the development in infection management, and improvement of vaccines and therapeutic agents in the field of health, new viral outbreaks that can still be fatal in humans and animals are emerging. The infection of zoonosis COVID-19 from bat origin, the intermediate host of which is still being unclear, has appeared in people who visited animal bazaar in December 2019, in Wuhan, China. The World Health Organization declared this infection a pandemic in February 2020. Millions of people have been affected by this pandemic. The fight against the pandemic has had a great economic cost and continues to do so. Even people have changed their lifestyle. In this context, there have been concerns about companion animals with COVID-19 transmission, from human to animal or animal to human. The purpose of this review was to examine the studies on the presence and transmission of COVID-19 in companion animals such as cats, dogs, hamsters and horses. Result and Discussion: It has been reported in studies that most of the companion animals (cat, dog and hamster) were susceptible to SARS-CoV-2, and humans could be a source of infection for them. However, the potential role of companion animals in transmission to humans is not fully known. It is clear from this pandemic that the necessity of epidemiological investigation of infectious agents, especially zoonotic ones, in one health concept has emerged once again.Copyright © 2022 University of Ankara. All rights reserved.
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Canine parvovirus (CPV), canine coronavirus (CCoV) and canine rotavirus (CRV) are the three main causative viruses of diarrhea in dogs with similar clinical symptoms;thereby it is necessary to establish a high effective molecular detection method for differentiating the above pathogens. By optimizing the primer concentration and annealing temperature, a triple PCR method was established for simultaneous detection of CPV, CCoV and CRV, and then the specificity, sensitivity and repeatability of the method were tested. The results showed that the target fragments of CPV VP2 gene (253 bp), CCoV ORF-1b gene (379 bp) and CRV VP6 gene (852 bp) could be accurately amplified by the triple PCR method with high specificity, the detection limits of CPV, CCOV and CRV were 6.44x10-1 pg/L, 8.72x10-1 pg/L and 8.35x10-1 pg/L respectively with high sensitivity, and the method had good stability. Using this triple PCR method, 135 canine diarrhea fecal samples collected in Chengdu region from 2019 to 2020 were detected, and compared with those of single PCR method. The detection rates of CPV, CCoV and CRV were 16.30%, 20.74% and 4.44%, respectively, and the total infection rate was 51.11% (65/135) with 20.00% (13/65) co-infection rate. The detection results were consistent with three single PCR methods. In conclusion, CPV/CCoV/CRV triple PCR method successfully established in this paper can be applied as an effective molecular method to detection of related pathogens and to the epidemiological investigation.
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The aim of this study was to determine the possible influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on dog ownership and anti-rabies vaccination practices in Metropolitan Lima (Peru), taking as a source of information the National Survey of Budgetary Programmes (ENAPRES) carried out by the Instituto Nacional de Estadistica e Informatica (INEI) in the period 2017-2021. The proportion of respondents who owned at least one dog per household had an increasing trend, reaching the highest proportions in the pandemic years (2020: 47.5%;2021: 50.8%). The districts of Lima Sur and Lima Centro presented the highest (52.1-58%) and lowest (31.6-42.4%) proportion of respondents with dogs, respectively. According to the socioeconomic stratum (ESE), dog ownership had an inverse relationship (rs=-0.95), with a higher proportion in sector E (51.5-60.7%) and lower in sector A (32.5-43.1%). The proportion of vaccinated animals had a decreasing trend, reaching the lowest coverage during the pandemic years (2020: 84.8%;2021: 82.4%). The highest proportion of vaccinated dogs was found in Lima Centro (88.1-95.9%). According to ESE, the relationship was direct (rs=0.813). The highest proportion of vaccinated animals during the pre-pandemic and pandemic years occurred in ESE A (90.3-95%) and B (87.8-94.8%). In all the years of the study, the lowest proportions of vaccinated animals were in ESE E (75-80.2%). The study shows that dog ownership and rabies vaccination coverage were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The results can be used to assess the sanitary measures implemented to keep the capital free of urban rabies.Copyright © 2023 Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. All rights reserved.
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The ability to recognize rotated objects has been widely reported in the animal kingdom. Studies on animal and human spatial cognition highlighted the importance of visuo-spatial cognitive capability for surviving in a dynamic world. Although domestic animals are frequently involved in activities requiring a high level of visuo-spatial ability, currently, little is known about their visuo-spatial skills. To investigate this issue, we trained six dogs to discriminate between 3D objects (using a modified version of the Shepard-Metzler task) that were then reproduced digitally on a computer. We found that the dogs recognized three-dimensional objects and their rotated versions (45° and 180°) more easily when presented on the left side of the screen, suggesting right hemisphere superiority in the control of visuo-spatial functions. Moreover, we report inter-individual variability in their performance in the visuo-spatial task. Our preliminary results suggest that dogs could use a rotational invariance process for the discrimination of 3D rotated shapes that deserves further investigation.
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The rise in subsidized spay-neuter access helped drive the euthanasia of shelter pets in the US from an estimated 13. 5 million in 1973 to 1.5 million in 2019. When the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic triggered lockdowns beginning in March 2020, many veterinary providers suspended nonessential services such as routine spay-neuter surgeries. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the volume of spay-neuter procedures performed by spay-neuter clinics. A retrospective study of patient data from 212 spay-neuter clinics using Clinic HQ practice management software was conducted from January 2019 through December 2021. The clinics collectively performed 1,217,240 surgeries in the pre-COVID baseline year of 2019. A sharp decline in surgeries began in March 2020 (-22%) and reached a nadir in April 2020 (-80%). Surgeries began to increase in May 2020 (-39%), before plateauing in July 2020 (-6%) and remaining slightly below the 2019 baseline in most months through the end of 2021. Compared to 2019, total surgeries decreased 13% to 1,059,388 in 2020 and decreased 3% to 1,184,274 in 2021. In 2020, when clinic disruptions were highest, the impact of the surgery cutbacks varied by geographic region, species, age, and source of animals. Compared with 2019, in 2020 surgeries decreased 17% in the Midwest region, 15% in the Northeast and West, and 11% in the South. Surgeries were reduced 19% in dogs and 10% in cats. When grouped by age, surgeries were reduced by 18% in geriatrics, 14% in adults, and 11% in juveniles. Reductions were similar for females (-14%) and males (-12%) and similar for unowned/organization-owned animals (-14%) and privately owned animals (-12%). In total, 190,818 fewer surgeries were performed by the 212 studied clinics in the 24 months from January 2020 through December 2021 than would be expected had 2019 levels been maintained. If a similar pattern was experienced by other spay/neuter providers in the US, it would suggest there is a deficit of more than 2.7 million spay/neuter surgeries that animal welfare organizations have yet to address.
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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) developed into a pandemic within months. SARS-CoV-2 testing measures and vaccines became quickly accessible. However, due to pre- or asymptomatic transmission, effective disease control remains challenging. To complement conventional testing methods, scientists around the world have investigated dogs' olfactory capability for true real-time detection. Several diseases are known to produce specific scents in affected individuals, excreted as volatile organic compounds, which can be easily detected by dogs within seconds. This systematic review evaluates the current evidence for using dogs' olfactory system as a reliable COVID-19-screening tool. Two independent procedures for study quality assessment were used: the QUADAS-2 tool for the evaluation of laboratory tests' diagnostic accuracy, designed for systematic reviews, and a second system for the general evaluation of canine scent detection studies, adapted with a focus on medical scent detection. Twenty-seven studies from thirteen countries were evaluated. Particular attention was paid to potential confounding factors, e.g., study design, patient/sample selection, dog characteristics, training protocols, and sample types/treatment. These analysis systems revealed that respectively four and six studies had low risk of bias and high quality. The four QUADAS-2 non-biased studies resulted in sensitivity and specificity ranges of 81-97% and 91-100%, whereas the six high quality studies according to the general evaluation system revealed sensitivity and specificity ranges of 82-97% and 83-100%, respectively. The other studies contained high risk of bias, concerns about the methodological applicability and/or quality concerns. Standardization and certification procedures as used for canine explosives detection should be established for medical scent detection dogs in order to use their undoubtful potential in an optimal and structured way. '.
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Susceptibility to and infection with SARS-CoV-2 in companion animals has been well-documented throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Surveillance for the virus in dogs has largely been focused on household pets; however, other canine populations may also be impacted. We partnered with a local veterinary hospital with a high working dog patient volume to conduct viral and neutralizing antibody testing in working dogs and identify potential risk factors in the dog's work and home environments. Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in law enforcement and security working dogs in Arizona found 24.81% (32/129) of dogs to be seropositive. Thirteen dogs presenting with clinical signs or with reported exposure to COVID-19 in the 30 days prior to sample collection were also tested by PCR; all samples were negative. 90.7% (n = 117) of dogs were reported to be asymptomatic or have no change in performance at the time of sampling. Two dogs (1.6%) had suspected anosmia as reported by their handlers; one of which was seropositive. Known exposure to the dog's COVID-19 positive handler or household member was identified as a significant risk factor. Demographics factors including sex, altered status, and type of work were not associated with canine seropositivity. Further work is warranted to understand the impact of SARS-CoV-2 and other infectious diseases in working dogs.
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The human pandemic caused by Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that started in December, 2019 is still continuing in various parts of the world. The SARS-CoV-2 has evolved through sporadic mutations and recombination events and the emergence of alternate variants following adaptations in humans and human-to-animal transmission (zooanthraponosis) has raised concerns over the efficacy of vaccines against new variants. The animal reservoir of SARS-CoV-2 is unknown despite reports of SARS-CoV- 2-related viruses in bats and pangolins. A recent report of back-andforth transmission of SARS-CoV-2 between humans and minks on mink farms in the Netherlands has sparked widespread interest in zooanthroponotic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 followed by reemergence to infect human populations. The risk of animal to human transmission depends on virus-host interaction in susceptible species that may be short-term or long term risks. The short term risk might be due to infection to humans during the viremic stage in susceptible animals. The long term risk might be either due to persistence of the virus at population level or latency of infection leading to risk of evolution and re-emergence of the virus. Experimental studies have identified a range of animals that are susceptible and permissive to SARS-CoV-2 infection viz. cats, ferrets, hamsters, mink, non-human primates, tree shrews, raccoon dogs, fruit bats, and rabbits. The health impacts of SARS-CoV-2 infection in animals are unknown and it is likely that other susceptible species have not been discovered yet. Apart from farmed animals, stray cats and rodents have been identified as a potential opportunity for ongoing transmission in intense farming situations. Recognizing animal species that are most susceptible to infection is the first step in preventing ongoing transmission from humans. Minimizing the risk of zooanthraponosis requires multi-sectoral coordination that includes implementation of strict biosecurity measures such as controlled access to farms that house susceptible animals, bio-secure entry and exit protocols, disinfection protocols in farm, down time for animal transport vehicles and daily assessments of human handlers for exposure to SARS-CoV- 2. Hence, active surveillance in animal species that are prioritized based on risk assessment need to be initiated in coordination with health and environment sectors for early identification of emerging and re-emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2 virus in animals.
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Background: Rabies which is 100 fetal but preventable is caused by bite of rabid animals particularly dogs. Animal bites cases are major public health problem in India and also in the UT of Jammu & Kashmir. Objective(s): To study the trend and seasonal Variation of animal bite cases attending the Anti Rabies clinic (from 2009 to 2022), run by Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College Srinagar at SMHS Hospital. Material(s) and Method(s): The retrospective Cross sectional study conducted at Anti-Rabies Clinic of SMHS Hospital, a tertiary care associated Hospital of Government Medical College Srinagar. Data was collected from the record of Animal bite register at Anti rabies clinic after proper permission from the incharge of the clinic. Data was entered and analyzed on Excel soft ware. Result(s): More than 70,000 number of animal bites cases were reported at the Anti-Rabies clinic from the year 2009 to 2022. there has been a rise of cases from the year 2009 to 2018 with a slight decrease in the year 2019-20. About 97% of all animal bites were dog bites. Majority of the cases (>60%) were category of three (3) exposure. One year analysis for seasonal variation shows that incidence was more in March and May-June. Conclusion(s): the present study showed that animal bites cases were rising with little decrease in the year 2019-20 as may be due to lesser animal human interaction due to Covid-19 restrictions. Keeping in view the present trend it is expected that the Animal bite cases will show rising trend in coming years. Multidisciplinary approach is advocated to control the increasing trend.
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Background: Dog bite is a public health problem in Kashmir incurring huge cost of treatment. Objective(s): To see the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the burden of dog bite cases and the profile of patients, comparing with that of the years before the three peak waves of COVID-19 and after that at Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital. Methodology: This is a retrospective record review of the dog bite cases in the year 2018 to 2022 in Anti Rabies Clinic, SMHS Hospital Srinagar. The target population of the study were people living in Srinagar city. Proportion of dog bite according to demographic and clinical variables were calculated. Univariate and multivariate analysis were done to look for risk factors responsible for dog bite in COVID infection waves compared to pre and post pandemic times. Results and Conclusion(s): The dog bite cases in the prepandemic time period and during the three waves of COVID 19 infection were recorded at 3.3% and 2.4% respectively. There was male predominance and highest incidence of the dog bite was in age group of 20-59 years. The commonest site of bite were lower limbs and stray dog bites were highest risk exposure. Less dog bite cases reported in 2020, 2021 which may be due to the impact of pandemic. Majority of the cases were stray dog bites and high incidence of dog bites can be a major concern for health, social and economic wellbeing of the nation which needs urgent intervention.
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BACKGROUND: Canine circovirus is a deadly pathogen of dogs and causes vasculitis and hemorrhagic enteritis. It causes lethal gastroenteritis in pigs, fox, and dogs. Canine circovirus genome contains two main (and opposite) transcription units which encode two open reading frames (ORFs), a replicase-associated protein (Rep) and the capsid (Cap) protein. The replicase protein and capsid protein consist of 303 amino acids and 270 amino acids respectively. Several immuno-informatics methods such as epitope screening, molecular docking, and molecular-dynamics simulations were used to craft peptide-based vaccine construct against canine circovirus. RESULTS: The vaccine construct was designed by joining the selected epitopes with adjuvants by suitable linker. The cloning and expression of the vaccine construct was also performed using in silico methods. Screening of epitopes was conducted by NetMHC server that uses ANN (Artificial neural networking) algorithm. These methods are fast and cost-effective for screening epitopes that can interact with dog leukocyte antigens (DLA) and initiate an immune response. Overall, 5 epitopes, YQHLPPFRF, YIRAKWINW, ALYRRLTLI, HLQGFVNLK, and GTMNFVARR, were selected and used to design a vaccine construct. The molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation studies show that these epitopes can bind with DLA molecules with stability. The codon adaptation and in silico cloning studies show that the vaccine can be expressed by Escherichia coli K12 strain. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the vaccine construct can be useful in preventing the dogs from canine circovirus infections. However, the results need further validation by performing other in vitro and in vivo experiments.
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A 5-month-old, intact male, yellow Labrador retriever was presented with a 24-hour history of anorexia and vomiting. Abdominal imaging revealed the presence of a mechanical obstruction in the jejunum and peritoneal effusion. Cytologic evaluation and culture of the effusion prior to surgery identified a suppurative exudate with bacteria consistent with septic peritonitis and suspected to be related to the intestinal lesion. An exploratory laparotomy was performed, and a segment of jejunum was circumferentially severely constricted by an off-white, fibrous band of tissue. Resection and anastomosis of the strangulated segment of jejunum and excision of the constricting band provided resolution of the clinical signs. The dog made a complete recovery. Histologic evaluation revealed the band to be composed of fibrovascular and smooth muscle tissue, consistent with an idiopathic anomalous congenital band. No other gastrointestinal lesions were observed, either grossly at surgery or histologically in the resected segment of intestine. To our knowledge, a similar structure has not been reported in the veterinary literature.Copyright © 2022 Canadian Veterinary Medical Association. All rights reserved.
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I greatly admire how Wang covers shifting medical and popular knowledge around rabies, illustrating how different and conflicting knowledges structured responses to the threat of mad dogs at the individual, social, and governmental levels. Rabies was never as common or as deadly as this pandemic, but fear of the disease shaped lives and public health policy in New York City in countless ways between 1840 and 1920. Wang did not write for this moment, but the book has much to offer to students and scholars trying to make sense of a multitude of issues surrounding Covid-19 and public health. [Extracted from the article] Copyright of Journal of the History of Medicine & Allied Sciences is the property of Oxford University Press / USA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)
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We sought to investigate whether SARS-CoV-2 was present, and to perform full-length genomic sequencing, in a 5-year-old male crossbreed dog from Gaborone, Botswana that presented overt clinical signs (flu-like symptoms, dry hacking cough and mild dyspnoea). It was only sampled a posteriori, because three adult owners were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Next-generation sequencing based on Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) was performed on amplicons that were generated using a reverse transcriptase real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) of confirmed positive SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal and buccal swabs, as well as a bronchoalveolar lavage with mean real cycle threshold (qCt) value of 36 based on the Nucleocapsid (N) gene. Descriptive comparisons to known sequences in Botswana and internationally were made using mutation profiling analysis and phylogenetic inferences. Human samples were not available. A near-full length SARS-CoV-2 genome (â¼90% coverage) was successfully genotyped and classified under clade 20 O and Pango-Lineage AY.43 (Pango v.4.0.6 PLEARN-v1.3; 2022-04-21), which is a sublineage of the Delta variant of concern (VOC) (formerly called B.1.617.2, first detected in India). We did not identify novel mutations that may be used to distinguish SARS-CoV-2 isolates from the dog and humans. In addition to Spike (S) region mutation profiling, we performed phylogenetic analysis including 30 Delta sequences publicly available reference also isolated from dogs. In addition, we performed another exploratory analysis to investigate the phylogenetic relatedness of sequence isolated from dog with those from humans in Botswana (n = 1303) as of 31 March 2022 and of same sublineage. Expectedly, the sequence formed a cluster with Delta sublineages - AY.43, AY.116 and B.1.617.2 - circulating in same time frame. This is the first documented report of human-associated SARS-CoV-2 infection in a dog in Botswana. Although the direction of transmission remains unknown, this study further affirms the need for monitoring pets during different COVID-19 waves for possible clinically relevant SARS-CoV-2 transmissions between species.