Case Reports Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Epublish 3 citations
PubMed: 37632111 DOI: 10.3390/v15081769
SARS-CoV-2 in Domestic UK Cats from Alpha to Omicron: Swab Surveillance and Case Reports.
Viruses 15(8)
Authors: Sarah Jones, Grace B Tyson, Richard J Orton, Katherine Smollett, Federica Manna, Kirsty Kwok, Nicolás M Suárez, Nicola Logan, Michael McDonald, Andrea Bowie, Ana Da Silva Filipe, Brian J Willett, William Weir, Margaret J Hosie
Affiliations
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK.
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK.
- Bath Vet Referrals, Rosemary Lodge Veterinary Hospital, Wellsway, Bath BA2 5RL, UK.
Abstract
Although domestic cats are susceptible to infection with SARS-CoV-2, the role of the virus in causing feline disease is less well defined. We conducted a large-scale study to identify SARS-CoV-2 infections in UK pet cats, using active and passive surveillance. Remnant feline respiratory swab samples, submitted for other pathogen testing between May 2021 and February 2023, were screened using RT-qPCR. In addition, we appealed to veterinarians for swab samples from cats suspected of having clinical SARS-CoV-2 infections. Bespoke testing for SARS-CoV-2 neutralising antibodies was also performed, on request, in suspected cases. One RT-qPCR-positive cat was identified by active surveillance (1/549, 0.18%), during the Delta wave (1/175, 0.57%). Passive surveillance detected one cat infected with the Alpha variant, and two of ten cats tested RT-qPCR-positive during the Delta wave. No cats tested RT-qPCR-positive after the emergence of Omicron BA.1 and its descendants although 374 were tested by active and eleven by passive surveillance. We describe four cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pet cats, identified by RT-qPCR and/or serology, that presented with a range of clinical signs, as well as their SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences. These cases demonstrate that, although uncommon in cats, a variety of clinical signs can occur.
MeSH
Infections, Research Design, Virology, Coronavirus, Sars Virus, Covid-19, Sars-Cov-2