Infection of dogs with SARS-CoV-2.

Thomas H C Sit,Pierra Y T Law,Christopher J Brackman,Leo L M Poon,Malik Peiris,Ranawaka A P M Perera,Dominic N C Tsang,Sin Ming Ip,Karina W S Tam,Daniel K W Chu,Leslie D Sims,Esther M W To,Veronica Y T Yu

doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2334-5

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 emerged in Wuhan in December 2019 and caused the pandemic respiratory disease, COVID-19.1,2 In 2003, the closely related SARS-CoV had been detected in domestic cats and a dog.3 However, little is known about the susceptibility of domestic pet mammals to SARS-CoV-2. Two of 15 dogs from households with confirmed human cases of COVID-19 in Hong Kong SAR were found to be infected using quantitative RT-PCR, serology, sequencing the viral genome, and in one dog, virus isolation. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in a 17 year-old neutered male Pomeranian from five nasal swabs collected over a 13 day period. A 2.5 yo male German Shepherd dog had SARS CoV-2 RNA on two occasions and virus was isolated from nasal and oral swabs. Both dogs had antibody responses detected using plaque reduction neutralisation assays. Viral genetic sequences of viruses from the two dogs were identical to the virus detected in the respective human cases. The animals remained asymptomatic during quarantine. The evidence suggests that these are instances of human-to-animal transmission of SARS-CoV-2. It is unclear whether infected dogs can transmit the virus to other animals or back to humans.

Highlights

A female domestic helper in the household developed a fever on 16 February 2020 and was subsequently confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2
The remaining three members of the household were sent to a quarantine centre on 26 February 2020, and one of them was confirmed to be infected on 7 March 2020
SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected from nasal swabs collected from dog 1 by quantitative PCR with reverse transcription (RT–qPCR)4,5 in five consecutive specimens collected on and between 26 February and 9 March 2020 (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

A female domestic helper in the household developed a fever on 16 February 2020 and was subsequently confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 (secondary case A). The remaining three members of the household were sent to a quarantine centre on 26 February 2020, and one of them was confirmed to be infected on 7 March 2020 (secondary case B). Dog 1 was transferred to a holding facility managed by AFCD on 26 February 2020 and nasal, oral and rectal swabs and a faecal sample were collected.

Results

Conclusion