A rapid review of evidence of infection of pets and livestock with human-associated coronavirus diseases, SARS, MERS, and COVID-19, and evidence of the fomite potential of pets and livestock

ABSTRACT

A rapid database review was undertaken to determine whether domestic animals can be infected with SARS-CoV- 2 and whether they could serve as fomites for SARS-CoV-2. We also assessed other human coronaviruses, SARS and MERS. Studies on natural and experimental infections were included. It was shown that cats and ferrets can become infected with SARSCoV- 2 and was detectable using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All other species (dogs, pigs, chickens, ducks, cattle, sheep, goats, donkeys, mules, camels and horses) were rarely, if ever, positive for the human coronaviruses and did not appear to shed the viruses. No other studies were found that evaluated fur, hair, skin, feathers or hides as a source of transmission from domestic animals for SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV or SARS-CoV. There is evidence that cats in Wuhan, China, have antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 which appears to have developed after the outbreak.