Evidence of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in domestic cats living with owners with a history of COVID-19 in Lima – Peru

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 can infect a variety of wild and domestic animals worldwide. Of these, domestic cats are highly susceptible species and potential viral reservoirs. As such, it is important to investigate disease exposure in domestic cats in areas with active community transmission and high disease prevalence. In this report we demonstrate the presence of serum neutralizing antibodies against the receptor binding-domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 in cats whose owners had been infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Lima, Peru, using a commercial competitive ELISA SARS-CoV-2 Surrogate Virus Neutralization Test. Out of 41 samples, 17.1% (7/41) and 31.7% (13/41) were positive, using the cut-off inhibition value of 30% and 20%, respectively. Not all cats living in a single house had detectable neutralizing antibodies showing heterogenous exposure and immunity among cohabiting animals. This is the first report of SARS-COV-2 exposure of domestic cats in Lima, Peru. Further studies are required to ascertain the prevalence of SARS-COV-2 exposure among domestic cats.

Cats and SARS-CoV-2: A Scoping Review

“…This study indicated an approximate doubling of the seroprevalence to 1.4% compared to the first study, while human cases increased eightfold in the same period. The study with the highest seroprevalence of 31.7% was performed by Jara et al [ 25 ]. However, this study only included cats whose owners previously had COVID-19, thus explaining the substantially higher prevalence.…”

“…Of all the tested cats, 12% (6/50) tested positive for the virus. Jara et al [ 25 ] found a seroprevalence of 31.7% among cats from households with a history of COVID-19 infection.…”

“…Third, the studies used different assays and tests to determine seropositivity for SARS-CoV-2, thus affecting the reported seroprevalence. Deng et al [ 46 ], Jara et al [ 25 ], Spada et al [ 36 ], and Villanueva-Saz et al [ 40 ] used different enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), with considerable differences in methodology and reliability of the used assay. The four remaining studies also used different ELISAs, but confirmed positive ELISA results with a virus neutralization test (VNT), which is regarded as gold standard to reliably detect neutralizing antibodies [ 58 ].…”

“…Specifically, cats from owners with confirmed COVID-19 infection should be sampled more often, including asymptomatic animals. Studies such as the serosurvey by Jara et al [ 25 ] indicate, that a substantial amount of pet cats of SARS-CoV-2-positive owners become infected. To avoid circulation of SARS-CoV among cats, infection of domestic cats should be avoided as much as possible.…”

Diversity of Coronaviruses with Particular Attention to the Interspecies Transmission of SARS-CoV-2

“…In France, Fritz and others also found that 58.8% (20/34) of tested cats and 38.5% (5/13) of tested dogs were seropositive for SARS-CoV-2 [122]; positive samples were greater among animals kept close to COVID-19-positive households. In Lima, Peru, SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were also observed in domestic cats [123]. In Germany, during the first-wave COVID-19 pandemic, antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 were detected in 0.65% (6/920) of serum samples collected from cats [124].…”