Abstract
Numerous studies have described human-to-human airborne and contact-based transmissions of SARS-CoV-2, the epidemiological agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In this review article, we assess the COVID-19 reverse-zoonotic transmission from humans-to-household pets and zoonotic transmission from pets-to-humans, and animal-to-animal transmission between cohoused pets including cats, dogs, and ferrets. COVID-19 in mink, ducks, pigs, chickens, and ectoparasite of domestic pets such as cat flea are also discussed. Cats and ferrets were found highly susceptible to SARS-COV-2; dogs susceptible to a lower degree; and chickens, pigs, and ducks not susceptible. Reverse zoonotic SARS-COV-2 transmission in dogs and cats was found as confirmed by genetic analysis of virus strains isolated from pets and pet owners. Most studies show absence of clinical symptoms in infected dogs and cats. There is no evidence of zoonotic transmission of SARS-COV-2 from pets, although the possibility could not be ruled out. COVID-19 in mink farms showed both human-to-mink and subsequent mink-to-human (zoonotic) transmission raising concerns about mink becoming possible unexpected intermediate hosts of SARS-COV-2. Preventative and control measures limiting zoonotic and reverse zoonotic COVID-19 transmissions should be developed and enforced publicly to minimize virus spread. Our article is important for animal and pet management in COVID-19 pandemic. As there is no evidence of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from household pets to humans, the pets must not be abandoned. To avoid virus transmission from infected households and pet-to-pet, the pets must be quarantined and isolated similar to humans. Leaving pets roaming in the community will increase the chances of virus spread. The original source of the virus is still unknown therefore, pets and animal management is necessary to stop the current and future pandemic.
Highlights
In the previous articles [1]-[3], the origin of COVID-19 pandemic, advances in testing and treatment, and vaccine development have been described
Ferrets may be a suitable animal model for evaluating antiviral treatments against COVID-19 given that SARS-CoV-2 uses ACE2 as the cell-entry receptor during human infection
Numerous studies have provided evidence for reverse zoonotic SARSCoV-2 transmission in cats and dogs as confirmed via the high genetic similarity of virus strains found in pets and infected pet owners
Summary
In the previous articles [1]-[3], the origin of COVID-19 pandemic, advances in testing and treatment, and vaccine development have been described. The number of cases in the most populated country India has declined in the past few days, the current caseload is worrisome. The COVID-19 caseload in India surpassed 7.5 million on October 18, 2020. After the US, India is the only country to reach 7.5 million COVID-19 cases [4]-[9]. The global COVID-19 cases reached above 40 million on October 19, 2020 [10]. The pandemic has caused >1.1 million global deaths already. It took 166 days to reach the figure of 10 million infections since the occurrence of the first case. Based on the number of observations that accidentally occurred and experiments conducted on pets, we reached the conclusion that there is no evidence that if pets are the source of infection. The management of infected and healthy pets have been suggested
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