Abstract
BackgroundThe main strategy to contain the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic remains to implement a comprehensive testing, tracing and quarantining strategy until vaccination of the population is adequate. Scent dogs could support current testing strategies.MethodsTen dogs were trained for 8 days to detect SARS-CoV-2 infections in beta-propiolactone inactivated saliva samples. The subsequent cognitive transfer performance for the recognition of non-inactivated samples were tested on three different body fluids (saliva, urine, and sweat) in a randomised, double-blind controlled study.ResultsDogs were tested on a total of 5242 randomised sample presentations. Dogs detected non-inactivated saliva samples with a diagnostic sensitivity of 84% (95% CI: 62.5–94.44%) and specificity of 95% (95% CI: 93.4–96%). In a subsequent experiment to compare the scent recognition between the three non-inactivated body fluids, diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 95% (95% CI: 66.67–100%) and 98% (95% CI: 94.87–100%) for urine, 91% (95% CI: 71.43–100%) and 94% (95% CI: 90.91–97.78%) for sweat, 82% (95% CI: 64.29–95.24%), and 96% (95% CI: 94.95–98.9%) for saliva respectively.ConclusionsThe scent cognitive transfer performance between inactivated and non-inactivated samples as well as between different sample materials indicates that global, specific SARS-CoV-2-associated volatile compounds are released across different body secretions, independently from the patient’s symptoms. All tested body fluids appear to be similarly suited for reliable detection of SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals.
Highlights
The main strategy to contain the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic remains to implement a comprehensive testing, tracing and quarantining strategy until vaccination of the population is adequate
When non-inactivated saliva samples were presented to the dogs after training with inactivated saliva samples, dogs were able to discriminate between samples of infected (RT-PCR positive), non-infected (RT-PCR negative) individuals and distractor samples (RT-PCR negative but respiratory symptoms) with a diagnostic sensitivity of 84% and specificity of 95%
During the following detection sessions, when the device was equipped with noninactivated samples with the same body fluid, the corresponding values for diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for saliva samples were 82% and 96%, for sweat samples 91% and 94%, and for urine samples 95% and 98% respectively (Table 1, Fig. 1)
Summary
The main strategy to contain the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic remains to implement a comprehensive testing, tracing and quarantining strategy until vaccination of the population is adequate. Current situation The recently emerged respiratory disease coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) broke out in Wuhan, China, Jendrny et al BMC Infectious Diseases (2021) 21:707 present atypically and lead to multiorgan dysfunction and death [1, 3, 4]. Containing this global pandemic requires a high rate of efficient testing, as an effective tool to contain viral spread. Odour detection Different infectious diseases may cause specific odours by emanating volatile organic compounds (VOCs) These are metabolic products, primarily produced by cell metabolism and released through breath, saliva, sweat, urine, faeces, skin emanations and blood [11]. The VOC-pattern reflects different metabolic states of an organism, so it could be used for medical diagnosis by odour detection and disease outbreak containment [12]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
