Animal Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and the Welfare of Animals during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The accelerated pace of research into Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) necessitates periodic summaries of current research. The present paper reviews virus susceptibilities in species with frequent human contact, and factors that are best predictors of virus susceptibility. Species reviewed were those in contact with humans through entertainment, pet, or agricultural trades, and for whom reports (either anecdotal or published) exist regarding the SARS-CoV-2 virus and/or the resulting disease state COVID-19. Available literature was searched using an artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted engine, as well as via common databases, such as Web of Science and Medline. The present review focuses on susceptibility and transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2, and polymorphisms in transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) that contribute to species differences. Dogs and pigs appear to have low susceptibility, while ferrets, mink, some hamster species, cats, and nonhuman primates (particularly Old World species) have high susceptibility. Precautions may therefore be warranted in interactions with such species, and more selectivity practiced when choosing appropriate species to serve as models for research.

Multi‐species outbreak of SARS‐CoV‐2 Delta variant in a zoological institution, with the detection in two new families of carnivores

“…In the past 2 years, SARS‐CoV‐2 has continually evolved in humans and several variants have emerged. Since most animal SARS‐CoV‐2 cases were presumed to be due to human‐to‐animal transmission events (Ekstrand et al., 2021 ; Garigliany et al., 2020 ; Jo et al., 2020 ; McAloose et al., 2020 ; Miro et al., 2021 ; Prince et al., 2021 ; Racnik et al., 2021 ), SARS‐CoV‐2 strains detected in animals also are likely to change over time. Highlighting this reverse zoonosis, animal SARS‐CoV‐2 strains and variants have mirrored those within the human population.…”

“…Following resolution of both clinical signs and qRT‐PCR detection, infected animals were vaccinated with a full two‐dose vaccine series, thus 12 individuals received three doses of the vaccine. Clinical signs during the outbreak were less severe and shorter in duration in both coati and binturong; it is unclear if this was due to differences in species susceptibility based on ACE2 receptor sequence (Ekstrand et al., 2021 ) or individual immune response due to either vaccine or exposure. In addition, several other species including sloth bears, meerkats, bat‐eared fox, and naked mole rats were near or adjacent to infected animals, but did not test positive for viral RNA nor show any clinical signs.…”

“…In the past 2 years, SARS-CoV-2 has continually evolved in humans and several variants have emerged. Since most animal SARS-CoV-2 cases were presumed to be due to human-to-animal transmission events (Ekstrand et al, 2021;Garigliany et al, 2020;Jo et al, 2020;McAloose et al, 2020;Miro et al, 2021;Prince et al, 2021;Racnik et al, 2021) and in a tiger at a zoo in Tennessee (B.1.2 lineage) (Bartlett et al, 2021;Cushing et al, 2021). In contrast, in 2021 variants were detected in animals including the Alpha variant in domestic dogs and cats in the United Kingdom (Ferasin et al, 2021), tigers and lions at the Prague Zoo in the Czech Republic, and tigers at the Virginia Zoo (Mitchell et al, 2021) and the Delta variant in 14 animal species, including the current report (cat, dog, mink, gorilla, hyena, hippopotamus, ferret, tiger, lion, In the present study, we report a SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in 12 zoo animals representing six animal species.…”

SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and its threats to humans and animals

“…Wybito wszystkie zwierzęta, ale okazało się że chorobą zaraziła się obsługa fermy, którą poddano kwarantannie a więc choroba może być przenoszona z norek na ludzi. Wprawdzie nie ma dowodów wprost, że zwierzęta odgrywają istotną rolę w rozprzestrzenianiu się koronawirusa na ludzi, ale należy zachować wszelkie środki ostrożności, aby zapewnić bezpieczeństwo ludziom i zwierzętom (10).…”

Iron dysregulation in COVID‐19 and reciprocal evolution of SARS‐CoV‐2: Natura nihil frustra facit

“… 31 , 32 A zoonotic pathogen that lacks co‐evolutionary history with a new host needs to modify and adapt through molecular evolution to thrive. 33 SARS‐CoV‐2 has demonstrated multiple instances of species' jump 34 and the rapid evolution for adapting to the new hosts, for example, the Mink variant. 35 Another peculiar feature of SARS‐CoV‐2 is the advent of convergent mutations, that is, the same mutations among different lineages.…”