Review of man to animal transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19) infection caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (Sars-Cov-2)

Abstract

Coronaviruses infect a wide variety of animals, including birds and mammals, where they cause infection in animals, mutate and cause disease outbreaks in humans. The review focused on the origin and spread of SARS-CoV-2 from humans to animals. A systematic literature search of PubMed, ProMed-mail, and Google Scholar databases, using keywords "animals", "COVID-19", and "SARS-CoV-2", for articles providing information on animal studies and case reports between December 2019 and September 2021. Published articles included in this review are in English and conducted studies on animals and case reports of human-animal transmission. Fifty-seven COVID-19 in animals published articles featured in this review. Humans can spread the disease to pets (dogs and cats) during close contact when they are clinically infected. Although cats are susceptible to subclinical infection, they developed a robust neutralizing antibody response that prevented re-infection to a second viral challenge in a laboratory setting. Clinically positive Farm workers on mink farms tend to spread the disease to the Minks. Pangolins are a natural reservoir of SARS-CoV-2-like CoVs, the Coronaviruses most related to SARSCoV-2. Companion animals living with infected owners are at risk of Man-to-animal spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Therefore, applying basic hygiene measures such as handwashing when handling and caring for animals is suggested.