Serological Screening for Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in Dutch Shelter Cats.
Viruses
; 13(8)2021 08 18.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1360823
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic raised concerns that companion animals might be infected with, and could become a reservoir of, SARS-CoV-2. As cats are popular pets and susceptible to Coronavirus, we investigated the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in shelter cats housed in Dutch animal shelters during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this large-scale cross-sectional study, serum samples of shelter cats were collected during the second wave of human COVID-19 infections in The Netherlands. Seroprevalence was determined by using an indirect protein-based ELISA validated for cats, and a Virus Neutralization Test (VNT) as confirmation. To screen for feline SARS-CoV-2 shedding, oropharyngeal and rectal swabs of cats positive for ELISA and/or VNT were analyzed using PCR tests. In 28 Dutch animal shelters, 240 shelter cats were convenience sampled. Two of these cats (0.8%; CI 95% 0.1-3.0%) were seropositive, as evidenced by the presence of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies. The seropositive animals tested PCR negative for SARS-CoV-2. Based on the results of this study, it is unlikely that shelter cats could be a reservoir of SARS-CoV-2 or pose a (significant) risk to public health.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Cat Diseases
/
Antibodies, Neutralizing
/
SARS-CoV-2
/
COVID-19
/
Antibodies, Viral
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Limits:
Animals
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
English
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
V13081634
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