Rising SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence and Patterns of Cross-Variant Antibody Neutralization in UK Domestic Cats

Tyson, Grace; Jones, Sarah; Logan, Nicola; McDonald, Michael; Murcia, Pablo R; Willett, Brian J.; Weir, William; Hosie, Margaret J.

doi:10.1101/2022.11.18.517046

Cited by 4 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 77 publications

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“…For samples with one or more titers, the pseudotype variant that generated the highest titer indicated the variant the animal had likely been infected with. The assay was performed as previously described by Davis et al [ 57 , 58 ]. For this study, the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein expression constructs were synthesized using GenScript (Netherlands).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection and Molecular Characterization of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant and the Specific Immune Response in Companion Animals in Switzerland

Kuhlmeier

Chan²,

Agüí³

et al. 2023

Viruses

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In human beings, there are five reported variants of concern of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, in contrast to human beings, descriptions of infections of animals with specific variants are still rare. The aim of this study is to systematically investigate SARS-CoV-2 infections in companion animals in close contact with SARS-CoV-2-positive owners (“COVID-19 households”) with a focus on the Delta variant. Samples, obtained from companion animals and their owners were analyzed using a real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and next-generation sequencing (NGS). Animals were also tested for antibodies and neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2. Eleven cats and three dogs in nine COVID-19-positive households were RT-qPCR and/or serologically positive for the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant. For seven animals, the genetic sequence could be determined. The animals were infected by one of the pangolin lineages B.1.617.2, AY.4, AY.43 and AY.129 and between zero and three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected between the viral genomes of animals and their owners, indicating within-household transmission between animal and owner and in multi-pet households also between the animals. NGS data identified SNPs that occur at a higher frequency in the viral sequences of companion animals than in viral sequences of humans, as well as SNPs, which were exclusively found in the animals investigated in the current study and not in their owners. In conclusion, our study is the first to describe the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant transmission to animals in Switzerland and provides the first-ever description of Delta-variant pangolin lineages AY.129 and AY.4 in animals. Our results reinforce the need of a One Health approach in the monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 in animals.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection and Molecular Characterization of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant and the Specific Immune Response in Companion Animals in Switzerland

Kuhlmeier

Chan²,

Agüí³

et al. 2023

Viruses

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“…As with all studies of SARS-CoV-2 it is important to assess the individual virus lineages (22), especially with the Omicron variant, as substantial virological changes have occurred as the pandemic has proceeded. Based on the timing of the study, we sampled infections caused predominantly by pre-VOC SARS-CoV-2 (from the B.1 lineage, spanning both S:G614G and S:614D).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Experimental studies have, however, demonstrated cats' high susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infections and their potential to transmit the virus through close contact (11). Numerous studies have now reported seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in domestic, shelter, and stray cats, yielding variable prevalence (12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27). Despite now extensive global documentation, data on the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in U.S. domestic cats remains relatively scarce (23)(24)(25)(26)(27), especially during the early stages of the pandemic.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

SARS-CoV-2 serosurvey of healthy, privately owned cats presenting to a New York City animal hospital in the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021)

Choi,

Stout,

Rollins

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Both domestic and non-domestic cats are now established to be susceptible to infection by SARS-CoV-2, the cause of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While serious disease in cats may occur in some instances, the majority of infections appear to be subclinical. Differing prevalence data for SARS-CoV-2 infection of cats have been reported, and are highly context-dependent. Here, we report a retrospective serological survey of cats presented to an animal practice in New York City, located in close proximity to a large medical center that treated the first wave of COVID-19 patients in the US in the Spring of 2020. We sampled 79, mostly indoor, cats between June 2020 to May 2021, the early part of which time the community was under a strict public health lock-down. Using a highly sensitive and specific fluorescent bead-based multiplex assay, we found an overall prevalence of 13/79 (16%) serologically-positive animals for the study period; however, cats sampled in the Fall of 2020 had a confirmed positive prevalence of 44%. For SARS-CoV-2 seropositive cats, we performed viral neutralization test with live SARS-CoV-2 to additionally confirm presence of SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies. Of the thirteen seropositive cats, 7/13 (54%) were also positive by virus neutralization, and 2 of seropositive cats had previously documented respiratory signs, with high neutralization titers of 1:1024 and 1:4096; overall however, there was no statistically significant association of SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity with respiratory signs, or with breed, sex or age of the animals. Follow up sampling of cats, while limited in scope, showed that positive serological titers were maintained over time. In comparison, we found an overall confirmed positive prevalence of 51% for feline coronavirus (FCoV), an endemic virus of cats, with 30% confirmed negative for FCoV. We demonstrate the impact of SARS-CoV in a defined feline population during the first wave of SARS-CoV-2 infection of humans, and suggest that human-cat transmission was substantial in our study group. Our data provide a new context for SARS-CoV-2 transmission events across species.

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“…In the UK, moderate levels of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in domestic cats have been documented in multiple publications [12][13][14], based on the analysis of remnant diagnostic samples submitted for other purposes. Despite this appreciable seroprevalence, veterinary diagnostic testing of domestic animals for SARS-CoV-2 is rarely performed due to the very narrow testing criteria dictated by government guidelines.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cats are known to generate a robust neutralising antibody response to SARS-CoV-2, which enables animals to resist re-infection [27], as well as an IgG response against the Spike and Nucleocapsid proteins of multiple different variants [14,21,28].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Increase in SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in UK Domestic Felids Despite Weak Immunogenicity of Post-Omicron Variants

Tyson,

Jones,

Montreuil-Spencer

et al. 2023

Viruses

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Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 infections in domestic cats have caused concern for both animal health and the potential for inter-species transmission. Cats are known to be susceptible to the Omicron variant and its descendants, however, the feline immune response to these variants is not well defined. We aimed to estimate the current seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in UK pet cats, as well as characterise the neutralising antibody response to the Omicron (BA.1) variant. A neutralising seroprevalence of 4.4% and an overall seroprevalence of 13.9% was observed. Both purebred and male cats were found to have the highest levels of seroprevalence, as well as cats aged between two and five years. The Omicron variant was found to have a lower immunogenicity in cats than the B.1, Alpha and Delta variants, which reflects previous reports of immune and vaccine evasion in humans. These results further underline the importance of surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 infections in UK cats as the virus continues to evolve.

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Rising SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence and Patterns of Cross-Variant Antibody Neutralization in UK Domestic Cats

Cited by 4 publications

References 77 publications

Detection and Molecular Characterization of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant and the Specific Immune Response in Companion Animals in Switzerland

Detection and Molecular Characterization of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant and the Specific Immune Response in Companion Animals in Switzerland

SARS-CoV-2 serosurvey of healthy, privately owned cats presenting to a New York City animal hospital in the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021)

Increase in SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in UK Domestic Felids Despite Weak Immunogenicity of Post-Omicron Variants

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