Reverse zoonosis of coronavirus disease-19: Present status and the control by one health approach

Abstract

The recent coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak is one of its kind in the history of public health that has created a major global threat. The causative agent, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has a zoonotic source and hence, reverse zoonosis (disease transmission from humans to animals) increases the risk and rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Serological and molecular analyses and experimental infection studies have identified SARS-CoV-2 infection in several animal species in various countries. Different domestic and wild animals, including cats, dogs, tigers, lions, puma, snow leopard, minks, and pet ferrets, are infected naturally with SARS-CoV-2, mostly through suspected human to animal transmission. In addition, in vivo experimental inoculation studies have reported the susceptibility of cats, ferrets, hamsters, Egyptian fruit bats, and non-human primates to the virus. These experimentally infected species are found to be capable of virus transmission to co-housed animals of the same species. However, SARS-CoV-2 showed poor replication in livestock species such as pigs, chickens, and ducks with no detection of viral RNA after the animals were deliberately inoculated with the virus or exposed to the infected animals. As the pets/companion animals are more susceptible to COVID-19, the infection in animals needs an in-depth and careful study to avoid any future transmissions. The one health approach is the best inter-disciplinary method to understand the consequences of viral spread and prevention in novel host populations for the betterment of public health. Further in this review, we will explain in detail the different natural and experimentally induced cases of human to animal SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Molecular characteristics, immune evasion, and impact of SARS-CoV-2 variants

“…7 384 , 385 ). Currently, animals including the Feline family (Cat, 386 – 389 Lion, Tiger, 390 Snow leopard, 391 Fishing, cat, 392 Lynx), Dog, 358 , 393 – 395 Mink, 111 , 389 Otter, 396 Ferret, 394 , 397 , 398 Gorilla, Deer, 399 – 402 Binturong, Coatimundi, Hippo, 403 and Hamster 404 , 405 were reported with positive cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection. These results suggested the existence of a human-to-animal transmission pathway.…”

Experimental Infection and Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron Variants among Beagle Dogs

“…The higher infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 variants than the wild-type virus strain led us to perform this experimental infection and transmission study in dogs. SARS-CoV-2 variants shed from humans might infect and efficiently circulate among companion animals, such as dogs or cats (11,12). It has been hypothesized that those companion animals could subsequently zoonotically infect humans.…”

The Importance of Animal Models in Biomedical Research: Current Insights and Applications

“…Ferrets, Syrian hamsters, rabbits, transgenic mice [ 47 ], and cats were all found to be susceptible, the latter even vulnerable to airborne transmission with the development of clinical signs such as hair loss and pulmonary alterations similar to those seen in humans [ 56 , 57 ]. Apart from domestic cats, wild felines (tigers, lions, pumas, snow leopards) [ 58 ] have been reported to show infections by this virus. Kang et al [ 59 ], who reported the first Delta variant (SARS-CoV-2 Delta) case in three domestic cats with COVID-19-positive owners in China, insist that transmission to pets is a topic of concern due to their possible role as silent intermediate hosts.…”