New Evidence Uncovered of Human-to-Cat Transmission of COVID-19 Coronavirus

New Study Reveals Human to Cat Transmission of the Virus That Causes COVID-19.

New research provides evidence that humans transmitted SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, to cats during the UK pandemic. The study, which is published in Veterinary Record, found the virus last year in cats who developed mild or severe respiratory disease.

Researchers used a range of laboratory techniques to demonstrate that two domestic cats from households with suspected cases of COVID-19 were infected with SARS-CoV-2.

“These findings indicate that human to cat transmission of SARS-CoV-2 occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK, with the infected cats exhibiting mild or severe respiratory disease. Given the ability of the coronavirus to infect companion animals, it will be important to control human-to-cat, cat-to-cat and cat-to-human transmission, ”said lead author Margaret Hosie, PhD, of the MRC’s Center for Viral Research. University of Glasgow.

Reference: “Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in UK Cat Respiratory Specimens for Human to Cat Transmission” by Margaret J. Hosie, Ilaria Epifano, Vanessa Herder, Richard J. Orton, Andrew Stevenson, Natasha Johnson, Emma MacDonald, Dawn Dunbar, Michael McDonald, Fiona Howie, Bryn Tennant, Darcy Herrity, Ana Da Silva Filipe, Daniel G. Streicker, The COVID-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK) Consortium, Brian J. Willett, Pablo R. Murcia , Ruth F. Jarrett, David L. Robertson and William Weir, Apr 22, 2021, Veterinary Record.
DOI: 10.1002 / vetr. 247