Whole-Genome Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 Reveals Simultaneous Circulation of Three Variants and a Putative Recombination (20B/20H) in Pets, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo.

Following the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, cases of pets infected with variants circulating among humans were reported. In order to evaluate the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 circulation among pets in the Republic of the Congo, we conducted a ten-month study of dogs and cats living in COVID-19-positive households in Brazzaville and neighboring localities. Real-time PCR and the Luminex platform were used to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA and antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 RBD and S proteins, respectively. Our results show for the first time the simultaneous circulation of several variants of SARS-CoV-2, including viruses from clades 20A and 20H and a putative recombinant variant between viruses from clades 20B and 20H. We found a high seroprevalence of 38.6%, with 14% of tested pets positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Thirty-four percent of infected pets developed mild clinical signs, including respiratory and digestive signs, and shed the virus for about one day to two weeks. These results highlight the potential risk of SARS-CoV-2 interspecies transmission and the benefits of a "One Health" approach that includes SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis and surveillance of viral diversity in pets. This approach aims to prevent transmission to surrounding wildlife as well as spillback to humans.

Detection and genome characterisation of SARS-CoV-2 P.6 lineage in dogs and cats living with Uruguayan COVID-19 patients.

BACKGROUND: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections in domestic animals have occurred from the beginning of the pandemic to the present time. Therefore, from the perspective of One Health, investigating this topic is of global scientific and public interest. OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to determine the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in domestic animals whose owners had coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS: Nasopharyngeal and faecal samples were collected in Uruguay. Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), we analysed the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 genome. Complete genomes were obtained using ARTIC enrichment and Illumina sequencing. Sera samples were used for virus neutralisation assays. FINDINGS: SARS-CoV-2 was detected in an asymptomatic dog and a cat. Viral genomes were identical and belonged to the P.6 Uruguayan SARS-CoV-2 lineage. Only antiserum from the infected cat contained neutralising antibodies against the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 strain and showed cross-reactivity against the Delta but not against the B.A.1 Omicron variant. MAIN CONCLUSIONS: Domestic animals and the human SARS-CoV-2 P.6 variant comparison evidence a close relationship and gene flow between them. Different SARS-CoV-2 lineages infect dogs and cats, and no specific variants are adapted to domestic animals. This first record of SARS-CoV-2 in domestic animals from Uruguay supports regular surveillance of animals close to human hosts.

Molecular screening of SARS-CoV-2 in dogs and cats from households with infected owners diagnosed with COVID-19 during Delta and Omicron variant waves in Iran.

OBJECTIVE: The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in dogs and cats in different countries worldwide raises concerns that pets are at a higher risk for spreading or transmitting of SARS-CoV-2 to humans and other pets and increased the research works about the zoonotic aspects and natural routes of infection in companion animals. The current study aimed to detect the SARS-CoV-2 in household dogs and cats living with COVID-19 positive owners. METHODS: Deep oropharyngeal and rectal swabs were collected from 30 household pets (20 cats and 10 dogs) living with COVID-19 positive owners from April 2021 to 2022 in Kerman, Iran. All dogs' and cats' samples were tested by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for detection of SARS-CoV-2. RESULTS: Two household cats out of 20 examined (10%) were positive for SARS-CoV-2, whereas none of the examined dogs were positive for SARS-CoV-2. The two cats positive for SARS-CoV-2 were symptomatic and suffered from severe anorexia with maximum contact with their infected owners. CONCLUSION: This study reported the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in household cats in close contact with COVID-19 positive owners during the circulation of new SARS-CoV-2 variants (Delta and Omicron) in Iran and suggested that the transmission may have occurred from owners to their cats. Therefore, infected owners should eagerly limit close contact with their pets during COVID-19 illness.

Acute-onset respiratory signs in a Labrador Retriever with a positive SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen test and infection confirmed by RT-PCR analysis: a case report.

A 10-year-old male neutered Labrador Retriever presented with a history of acute-onset tachypnoea, lethargy and anorexia. The dog was pyrexic, tachypnoeic and dyspnoeic on examination. A rapid antigen test for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) was performed on an oropharyngeal swab and yielded a positive result. SARS-CoV-2 infection was subsequently confirmed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. Both of the dog's owners had positive rapid antigen test and RT-PCR analysis results for SARS-CoV-2. Additional diagnostics included computed tomography. Resolution of the dog's clinical signs was achieved with symptomatic treatment.

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in a dog with hemorrhagic diarrhea.

BACKGROUND: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of COVID-19, has infected several animal species, including dogs, presumably via human-to-animal transmission. Most infected dogs reported were asymptomatic, with low viral loads. However, in this case we detected SARS-CoV-2 in a dog from the North African coastal Spanish city of Ceuta presenting hemorrhagic diarrhea, a disease also reported earlier on in an infected dog from the USA. CASE PRESENTATION: In early January 2021, a West Highland Terrier pet dog from Ceuta (Spain) presented hemorrhagic diarrhea with negative tests for candidate microbial pathogens. Since the animal was in a household whose members suffered SARS-CoV-2 in December 2020, dog feces were analyzed for SARS-CoV-2, proving positive in a two-tube RT-PCR test, with confirmation by sequencing a 399-nucleotide region of the spike (S) gene. Furthermore, next-generation sequencing (NGS) covered > 90% SARS-CoV-2 genome sequence, allowing to classify it as variant B.1.177. Remarkably, the sequence revealed the Ile402Val substitution in the spike protein (S), of potential concern because it mapped in the receptor binding domain (RBD) that mediates virus interaction with the cell. NGS reads mapping to bacterial genomes showed that the dog fecal microbiome fitted best the characteristic microbiome of dog's acute hemorrhagic diarrhea. CONCLUSION: Our findings exemplify dog infection stemming from the human SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, providing nearly complete-genome sequencing of the virus, which is recognized as belonging to the B.1.177 variant, adding knowledge on variant circulation in a geographic region and period for which there was little viral variant characterization. A single amino acid substitution found in the S protein that could have been of concern is excluded to belong to this category given its rarity and intrinsic nature. The dog's pathology suggests that SARS-CoV-2 could affect the gastrointestinal tract of the dog.

Lethal Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome caused by Capnocytophaga canimorsus in an asplenic patient.

BACKGROUND: Capnocytophaga canimorsus, a Gram-negative rod, belongs to the Flavobacteriaceae family and colonizes the oropharynx of dogs and cats. Infections with C. canimorsus are rare and can induce a systemic infection with a severe course of the disease. So far, only five case reports of C. canimorsus infections associated with Waterhouse-Friderichsen Syndrome (WFS) have been reported with only two of the patients having a history of splenectomy. CASE PRESENTATION: Here, we report a fatal case of WFS due to C. canimorsus bacteremia and mycetal superinfection in a 61-year-old female asplenic patient. Despite extensive therapy including mechanical ventilation, antibiotic coverage with meropenem, systemic corticosteroids medication, vasopressor therapy, continuous renal replacement therapy, therapeutic plasma exchange, multiple transfusions of blood products and implantation of a veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation the patient died 10 days after a dog bite. The autopsy showed bilateral hemorrhagic necrosis of the adrenal cortex and septic embolism to heart, kidneys, and liver. Diagnosis of C. canimorsus was prolonged due to the fastidious growth of the bacteria. CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of a severe sepsis after dog bite should always urge the attending physician to consider C. canimorsus as the disease-causing pathogen. A therapeutic regimen covering C. canimorsus such as aminopenicillins or carbapenems should be chosen. However, despite maximum therapy, the prognosis of C. canimorsus-induced septic shock remains very poor. Asplenic or otherwise immunocompromised patients are at higher risk for a severe course of disease and should avoid exposure to dogs and cats and consider antibiotic prophylaxis after animal bite.

SARS-CoV-2 delta variant infection in domestic dogs and cats, Thailand.

In June-September 2021, we investigated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections in domestic dogs and cats (n = 225) in Bangkok and the vicinities, Thailand. SARS-CoV-2 was detected in a dog and a cat from COVID-19 positive households. Whole genome sequence analysis identified SARS-CoV-2 delta variant of concern (B.1.617.2). Phylogenetic analysis showed that SARS-CoV-2 isolated from dog and cat were grouped into sublineage AY.30 and AY.85, respectively. Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 could be detected in both dog (day 9) and cat (day 14) after viral RNA detection. This study raises awareness on spill-over of variant of concern in domestic animals due to human-animal interface. Thus, surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in domestic pets should be routinely conducted.

Development of a three-panel multiplex real-time PCR assay for simultaneous detection of nine canine respiratory pathogens.

Infectious respiratory disease is one of the most common diseases in dogs worldwide. Several bacterial and viral pathogens can serve as causative agents of canine infectious respiratory disease (CIRD), including Mycoplasma cynos, Mycoplasma canis, Bordetella bronchiseptica, canine adenovirus type 2 (CAdV-2), canine herpesvirus 1 (CHV-1), canine parainfluenza virus (CPIV), canine distemper virus (CDV), canine influenza virus (CIA) and canine respiratory coronavirus (CRCoV). Since these organisms cause similar clinical symptoms, disease diagnosis based on symptoms alone can be difficult. Therefore, a quick and accurate test is necessary to rapidly identify the presence and relative concentrations of causative CIRD agents. In this study, a multiplex real-time PCR panel assay was developed and composed of three subpanels for detection of the aforementioned pathogens. Correlation coefficients (R2) were >0.993 for all singleplex and multiplex real-time PCR assays with the exception of one that was 0.988; PCR amplification efficiencies (E) were between 92.1% and 107.8% for plasmid DNA, and 90.6-103.9% for RNA templates. In comparing singular and multiplex PCR assays, the three multiplex reactions generated similar R2 and E values to those by corresponding singular reactions, suggesting that multiplexing did not interfere with the detection sensitivities. The limit of detection (LOD) of the multiplex real-time PCR for DNA templates was 5, 2, 3, 1, 1, 1, 4, 24 and 10 copies per microliter for M. cynos, M. canis, B. brochiseptica, CAdV-2, CHV-1, CPIV, CDV, CIA and CRCoV, respectively; and 3, 2, 6, 17, 4 and 8 copies per microliter for CAdV-2, CHV-1, CPIV, CDV, CIA and CRCoV, respectively, when RNA templates were used for the four RNA viruses. No cross-detection was observed among the nine pathogens. For the 740 clinical samples tested, the newly designed PCR assay showed higher diagnostic sensitivity compared to an older panel assay; pathogen identities from selected samples positive by the new assay but undetected by the older assay were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Our data showed that the new assay has higher diagnostic sensitivity while maintaining the assay's specificity, as compared to the older version of the panel assay.

Risk Factors for SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Illness in Cats and Dogs1.

We tested swab specimens from pets in households in Ontario, Canada, with human COVID-19 cases by quantitative PCR for SARS-CoV-2 and surveyed pet owners for risk factors associated with infection and seropositivity. We tested serum samples for spike protein IgG and IgM in household pets and also in animals from shelters and low-cost neuter clinics. Among household pets, 2% (1/49) of swab specimens from dogs and 7.7% (5/65) from cats were PCR positive, but 41% of dog serum samples and 52% of cat serum samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2 IgG or IgM. The likelihood of SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity in pet samples was higher for cats but not dogs that slept on owners' beds and for dogs and cats that contracted a new illness. Seropositivity in neuter-clinic samples was 16% (35/221); in shelter samples, 9.3% (7/75). Our findings indicate a high likelihood for pets in households of humans with COVID-19 to seroconvert and become ill.

SARS-CoV-2 transmission from infected owner to household dogs and cats is associated with food sharing.

OBJECTIVES: Several cases of reverse transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from human to pets were reported during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, the World Organization for Animal Health has recommended to improve SARS-CoV-2 surveillance on household animals to assess the risk of transmission between species. After such recommendation, we studied the potential SARS-CoV-2 infection in household dogs and cats in the city of Guayaquil, the most populated city in Ecuador. METHODS: Oral and nasal swab samples were collected from dogs and cats within 10 days of a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result of their owners. Total ribonucleic acid was extracted and detection of viral gene targets N and ORF1ab was performed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: From the 50 cats and dogs tested, 12 were SARS-CoV-2 positive, giving a total positivity rate of 24%. A total of 1 of 8 cats tested positive, whereas 11 of 42 dogs were positive, yielding a positivity rate of 12.5% and 26.2%, respectively. SARS-CoV-2 was confirmed by whole genome sequencing. In addition, we also found a statistically significant association between SARS-CoV-2 pet positivity and food sharing with infected owners. CONCLUSION: This study is the second active surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in household dogs and cats in Latin America. Moreover, it is the first study to address the risk factors associated with potential anthropogenic SARS-CoV-2 transmission to domestic cats and dogs. Given the high presence of free-roaming dogs and cats in rural and urban areas in Latin American countries and the high capacity shown by coronaviruses for interspecies transmission, our findings support the view that SARS-CoV-2 surveillance in pets is necessary to better understand the role that pet-human interaction plays in the COVID-19 spread.

The Importance of Accurate Host Species Identification in the Framework of Rabies Surveillance, Control and Elimination.

Accurate host identification is paramount to understand disease epidemiology and to apply appropriate control measures. This is especially important for multi-host pathogens such as the rabies virus, a major and almost invariably fatal zoonosis that has mobilized unanimous engagement at an international level towards the final goal of zero human deaths due to canine rabies. Currently, diagnostic laboratories implement a standardized identification using taxonomic keys. However, this method is challenged by high and undiscovered biodiversity, decomposition of carcasses and subjective misevaluation, as has been attested to by findings from a cohort of 242 archived specimens collected across Sub-Saharan Africa and submitted for rabies diagnosis. We applied two simple and cheap methods targeting the Cytochrome b and Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I to confirm the initial classification. We therefore suggest prioritizing a standardized protocol that includes, as a first step, the implementation of taxonomic keys at a family or subfamily level, followed by the molecular characterization of the host species.

Retrospective evaluation of the use of quick Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) as predictor of mortality and length of hospitalization in dogs with pyometra (2013-2019): 52 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prognostic utility of quick Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) for prediction of in-hospital mortality and length of hospitalization in dogs with pyometra. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study from February 2013 to April 2019 SETTING: Tertiary referral hospital ANIMALS: Fifty-two dogs referred with confirmed diagnosis of pyometra INTERVENTIONS: None MEASUREMENTS AND PRINCIPAL OUTCOMES: Sixty-five percent of dogs survived to discharge. A cut-off score of ≥2 for qSOFA was associated with in-hospital mortality (odds ratio 6.51 [95% CI: 1.35 - 31.3]) P = 0.019. The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve for a qSOFA score ≥ 2 for mortality was 0.72 (95% CI: 0.59-0.85), with a sensitivity of 77.8% and a specificity of 66.7%. The mean ± SD number of organs with dysfunction was significantly higher in dogs with a qSOFA score ≥2 1.76 ± 0.83 compared to dogs with a qSOFA score < 2 1.08 ± 1.09, P = 0.015. The presence of a qSOFA score ≥ 2 was associated with a longer time of hospitalization in survivors with a median (interquartile range) length of stay in qSOFA < 2 (48 [33]) hours versus qSOFA score ≥ 2 (78 [52]) hours, P = 0.027. CONCLUSIONS: In dogs with pyometra, the qSOFA score was associated with mortality and length of hospitalization. This score might be useful to improve the risk stratification in dogs with pyometra. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the predictive capacity of qSOFA in other septic patient populations.

Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 infection and associated lesions in exotic and companion animals.

Documented natural infections with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in exotic and companion animals following human exposures are uncommon. Those documented in animals are typically mild and self-limiting, and infected animals have only infrequently died or been euthanized. Through a coordinated One Health initiative, necropsies were conducted on 5 animals from different premises that were exposed to humans with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. The combination of epidemiologic evidence of exposure and confirmatory real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction testing confirmed infection in 3 cats and a tiger. A dog was a suspect case based on epidemiologic evidence of exposure but tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. Four animals had respiratory clinical signs that developed 2 to 12 days after exposure. The dog had bronchointerstitial pneumonia and the tiger had bronchopneumonia; both had syncytial-like cells with no detection of SARS-CoV-2. Individual findings in the 3 cats included metastatic mammary carcinoma, congenital renal disease, and myocardial disease. Based on the necropsy findings and a standardized algorithm, SARS-CoV-2 infection was not considered the cause of death in any of the cases. Continued surveillance and necropsy examination of animals with fatal outcomes will further our understanding of natural SARS-CoV-2 infection in animals and the potential role of the virus in development of lesions.

First Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Delta (B.1.617.2) Variant of Concern in a Dog with Clinical Signs in Spain.

Several cases of naturally infected dogs with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been reported despite the apparently low susceptibility of this species. Here, we document the first reported case of infection caused by the Delta (B.1.617.2) variant of concern (VOC) in a dog in Spain that lived with several household members suffering from Coronavirus Infectious Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The animal displayed mild digestive and respiratory clinical signs and had a low viral load in the oropharyngeal swab collected at the first sampling. Whole-genome sequencing indicated infection with the Delta variant, coinciding with the predominant variant during the fifth pandemic wave in Spain. The dog seroconverted, as detected 21 days after the first sampling, and developed neutralizing antibodies that cross-neutralized different SARS-CoV-2 variants. This study further emphasizes the importance of studying the susceptibility of animal species to different VOCs and their potential role as reservoirs in the context of COVID-19.

First evidence of human-to-dog transmission of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.160 variant in France.

Since the start of the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, several episodes of human-to-animal severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission have been described in different countries. The role of pets, especially domestic dogs, in the COVID-19 epidemiology is highly questionable and needs further investigation. In this study, we report a case of COVID-19 in a French dog living in close contact with its owners who were COVID-19 patients. The dog presented rhinitis and was sampled 1 week after its owners (a man and a woman) were tested positive for COVID-19. The nasal swabs for the dog tested remained positive for SARS-CoV-2 by reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) 1 month following the first diagnosis. Specific anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detectable 12 days after the first diagnosis and persisted for at least 5 months as tested using enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) and automated western blotting. The whole-genome sequences from the dog and its owners were 99%-100% identical (with the man and the woman's sequences, respectively) and matched the B.1.160 variant of concern (Marseille-4 variant), the most widespread in France at the time the dog was infected. This study documents the first detection of B.1.160 in pets (a dog) in France, and the first canine genome recovery of the B.1.160 variant of global concern. Moreover, given the enhanced infectivity and transmissibility of the Marseille-4 variant for humans, this case also highlights the risk that pets may potentially play a significant role in SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks and may transmit the infection to humans. We have evidence of human-to-dog transmission of the Marseille-4 variant since the owners were first to be infected. Finally, owners and veterinarians must be vigilent for canine COVID-19 when dogs are presented with respiratory clinical signs.

Determining the role of natural SARS-CoV-2 infection in the death of domestic pets: 10 cases (2020-2021).

OBJECTIVE: To establish a pathoepidemiological model to evaluate the role of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the first 10 companion animals that died while infected with SARS-CoV-2 in the US. ANIMALS: 10 cats and dogs that tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and died or were euthanized in the US between March 2020 and January 2021. PROCEDURES: A standardized algorithm was developed to direct case investigations, determine the necessity of certain diagnostic procedures, and evaluate the role, if any, that SARS-CoV-2 infection played in the animals' course of disease and death. Using clinical and diagnostic information collected by state animal health officials, state public health veterinarians, and other state and local partners, this algorithm was applied to each animal case. RESULTS: SARS-CoV-2 was an incidental finding in 8 animals, was suspected to have contributed to the severity of clinical signs leading to euthanasia in 1 dog, and was the primary reason for death for 1 cat. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This report provides the global community with a standardized process for directing case investigations, determining the necessity of certain diagnostic procedures, and determining the clinical significance of SARS-CoV-2 infections in animals with fatal outcomes and provides evidence that SARS-CoV-2 can, in rare circumstances, cause or contribute to death in pets.

Risk factors and impact of COVID-19-related clinic closures on the detection of gastrointestinal parasites in dogs, a cross-sectional study.

Infections with endoparasites, especially gastrointestinal helminths, are a common finding in client-owned dogs. The Community Practice section at the Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center (OSU-VMC) follows Companion Animal Parasite Council, American Animal Hospital Association, and American Veterinary Medical Association guidelines for parasitology by recommending annual fecal analyses for dogs and prescribing year-round, broad-spectrum parasite preventatives. There is increasing interest in determining if parasite occurrence is changing in client-owned dogs. Therefore, a retrospective study was designed to examine risk factors associated with the detection of parasites in samples submitted to the OSU-VMC Clinical Veterinary Parasitology Diagnostic Laboratory. Of the 1198 canine fecal samples, 254 (21.2%) of these samples had a positive fecal analysis for gastrointestinal (GI) parasites. The age of the dog, time of year, reproductive status, purpose of fecal examination, GI signs, and type of parasite preventatives were assessed as potential risk factors for GI parasite infection in dogs. To determine if Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated hospital restrictions impacted the number of fecal examinations performed, data from January to December 2020, was compared to the same period in 2019. There was nearly a 50% reduction in canine fecal samples submitted to the OSU-VMC Clinical Veterinary Parasitology Diagnostic Laboratory in March 2020 compared to March 2019. At least one canine GI parasite was found in over 20% of all 1198 canine fecal samples (21.2%, 254/1198). The most commonly detected canine GI parasite in all the fecal samples was hookworm at 9.6% (115/1198), followed by Giardia sp. at 7.6% (91/1198). Age, use of parasite preventatives, breed, and reproductive status were found to be associated with parasite occurrence in the dog samples. Identifying such risk factors in dogs will guide veterinarians to advise annual fecal examinations more strongly to clients with high-risk dogs or when routine health visits are postponed for an extended period.

Correlation between bispectral index value and modified Glasgow Coma Scale score in dogs with altered level of consciousness.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to identify the correlation between bispectral index (BIS) value and modified Glasgow Coma Scale (MGCS) score in dogs with altered level of consciousness (ALOC). DESIGN: This prospective, observational, clinical study was conducted from February 2016 to March 2017, and follow-up was conducted until the death of dogs or their discharge from the hospital. SETTING: This study was performed at the Small Animal Teaching Hospital. ANIMALS: A total of 31 client-owned dogs (males, 20; females, 11) with ALOC and MGCS score <18 with no restrictions for age, breed, sex, and body weight were included. Dogs that received neuromuscular blocking agents before MGCS score evaluation were excluded. INTERVENTIONS: BIS values were measured using the Covidien BIS Loc 2 Channel OEM module and a pediatric 4 sensor with a bifrontal application pattern. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Minimal databases of initial neurological assessment, blood profiles, and chest and skull radiographs were developed. In addition, MGCS scores and BIS values were recorded. The mean BIS values for mild, moderate, and severe brain injuries were 89.14 ± 6.52, 77.21 ± 9.82, and 50.58 ± 27.04, respectively. Correlation analysis revealed a significantly positive relationship between BIS values and MGCS scores (r = 0.75; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The significant correlation observed between MGCS scores and BIS values in dogs with ALOC demonstrated the usefulness of BIS as an alternative to MGCS for monitoring consciousness in patients with ALOC caused by traumatic brain injury, encephalitis, etc.

SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Dogs and Cats from Southern Germany and Northern Italy during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has affected millions of people globally since its first detection in late 2019. Besides humans, cats and, to some extent, dogs were shown to be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2, highlighting the need for surveillance in a One Health context. Seven veterinary clinics from regions with high incidences of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were recruited during the early pandemic (March to July 2020) for the screening of patients. A total of 2257 oropharyngeal and nasal swab specimen from 877 dogs and 260 cats (including 18 animals from COVID-19-affected households and 92 animals with signs of respiratory disease) were analyzed for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA using reverse transcriptase real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) targeting the viral envelope (E) and RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) genes. One oropharyngeal swab from an Italian cat, living in a COVID-19-affected household in Piedmont, tested positive in RT-qPCR (1/260; 0.38%, 95% CI: 0.01-2.1%), and SARS-CoV-2 infection of the animal was serologically confirmed six months later. One oropharyngeal swab from a dog was potentially positive (1/877; 0.1%, 95% CI: 0.002-0.63%), but the result was not confirmed in a reference laboratory. Analyses of convenience sera from 118 animals identified one dog (1/94; 1.1%; 95% CI: 0.02-5.7%) from Lombardy, but no cats (0/24), as positive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) antibodies and neutralizing activity. These findings support the hypothesis that the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pet cat and dog populations, and hence, the risk of zoonotic transmission to veterinary staff, was low during the first wave of the pandemic, even in hotspot areas.

The Emergence of SARS-CoV-2 within the Dog Population in Croatia: Host Factors and Clinical Outcome.

Over a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, there is growing evidence that SARS-CoV-2 infections among dogs are more common than previously thought. In this study, the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was investigated in two dog populations. The first group was comprised of 1069 dogs admitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital for any given reason. The second group included dogs that shared households with confirmed COVID-19 cases in humans. This study group numbered 78 dogs. In COVID-19 infected households, 43.9% tested ELISA positive, and neutralising antibodies were detected in 25.64% of dogs. Those data are comparable with the secondary attack rate in the human population. With 14.69% of dogs in the general population testing ELISA positive, there was a surge of SARS-CoV-2 infections within the dog population amid the second wave of the pandemic. Noticeably seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in the dog and the human population did not differ at the end of the study period. Male sex, breed and age were identified as significant risk factors. This study gives strong evidence that while acute dog infections are mostly asymptomatic, they can pose a significant risk to dog health. Due to the retrospective nature of this study, samples for viral isolation and PCR were unavailable. Still, seropositive dogs had a 1.97 times greater risk for developing central nervous symptoms.