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Journal Article Ppublish 1 citation

PubMed: 38140758 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.1338

Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in domestic cats (Felis catus) during COVID-19 pandemic in Latvia.

Vet Med Sci 10(3):e1338

Authors: Gundega Mūrniece, Žanete Šteingolde, Svetlana Cvetkova, Olga Valciņa, Ņikita Zrelovs, Monta Brīvība, Jānis Kloviņš, Līga Birzniece, Kaspars Megnis, Dāvids Fridmanis, Aivars Bērziņš, Līga Kovaļčuka, Kaspars Kovaļenko

Affiliations

  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Jelgava, Latvia.
  • Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment "BIOR", Riga, Latvia.
  • Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia.

Abstract

BACKGROUND

The causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is of zoonotic origin and has shown reverse zoonotic transmissibility.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the serological and molecular prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the domestic cat (Felis catus) population from Latvia in natural conditions and subsequently perform viral genome analysis.

METHODS

Oropharyngeal and rectal swabs and blood samples were collected from 273 domestic cats during the second wave of COVID-19 infection in Latvia. Molecular prevalence was determined by using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Serum samples were analysed via double antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay targeting the antibody against the nucleocapsid protein of SARS-CoV-2. Positive swab samples were analysed using whole viral genome sequencing and subsequent phylogenetic analysis of the whole genome sequencing data of the samples was performed.

RESULTS

The overall SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR positivity and seroprevalence was 1.1% (3/273) and 2.6% (7/273), respectively. The SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences from three RT-PCR positive cats were assigned to the three common lineages (PANGOLIN lineage S.1.; B.1.177.60. and B.1.1.7.) circulating in Latvia during the particular period of time.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that feline infection with SARS-CoV-2 occurred during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Latvia, yet the overall prevalence was low. In addition, it seems like no special 'cat' pre-adaptations were necessary for successful infection of cats by the common lineages of SARS-CoV-2.

MeSH

Coronavirus, Sars-Cov-2, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Animal Diseases, Genome, Veterinary Medicine, Covid-19, Genome, Viral, Prevalence, Pandemics, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Related Coronavirus, Infections, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

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