Detection and Genome Sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 in a Domestic Cat with Respiratory Signs in Switzerland

Julia Klaus; Marina L Meli; Barbara Willi; Sarah Nadeau; Christian Beisel; Tanja Stadler; null Eth Sars-CoV-Sequencing Team; Herman Egberink; Shan Zhao; Hans Lutz; Barbara Riond; Nina Rösinger; Hanspeter Stalder; Sandra Renzullo; Regina Hofmann-Lehmann

doi:10.3390/v13030496

Detection and Genome Sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 in a Domestic Cat with Respiratory Signs in Switzerland

Julia Klaus, Marina L Meli, Barbara Willi, Sarah Nadeau, Christian Beisel, Tanja Stadler, Eth Sars-CoV-Sequencing Team, Herman Egberink, Shan Zhao, Hans Lutz, Barbara Riond, Nina Rösinger, Hanspeter Stalder, Sandra Renzullo, Regina Hofmann-Lehmann

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Since the emergence of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in late 2019, domestic cats have been demonstrated to be susceptible to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) under natural and experimental conditions. As pet cats often live in very close contact with their owners, it is essential to investigate SARS-CoV-2 infections in cats in a One-Health context. This study reports the first SARS-CoV-2 infection in a cat in a COVID-19-affected household in Switzerland. The cat (Cat 1) demonstrated signs of an upper respiratory tract infection, including sneezing, inappetence, and apathy, while the cohabiting cat (Cat 2) remained asymptomatic. Nasal, oral, fecal, fur, and environmental swab samples were collected twice from both cats and analyzed by RT-qPCR for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA. Both nasal swabs from Cat 1 tested positive. In addition, the first oral swab from Cat 2 and fur and bedding swabs from both cats were RT-qPCR positive. The fecal swabs tested negative. The infection of Cat 1 was confirmed by positive SARS-CoV-2 S1 receptor binding domain (RBD) antibody testing and neutralizing activity in a surrogate assay. The viral genome sequence from Cat 1, obtained by next generation sequencing, showed the closest relation to a human sequence from the B.1.1.39 lineage, with one single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) difference. This study demonstrates not only SARS-CoV-2 infection of a cat from a COVID-19-affected household but also contamination of the cats' fur and bed with viral RNA. Our results are important to create awareness that SARS-CoV-2 infected people should observe hygienic measures to avoid infection and contamination of animal cohabitants.

Original language	English
Article number	496
Pages (from-to)	1-26
Number of pages	26
Journal	Viruses
Volume	13
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/v13030496
Publication status	Published - Mar 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Funding: The study was financially supported by a grant from the University of Zurich for exceptional research projects (“COVID-19 in a One-Health Context: Natural SARS-CoV-2 infection in animals and its implication for infection control”) and by the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (Bundesamt für Lebensmittelsicherheit und Veterinärwesen, BLV: “COVID-19 and Domestic Animals: Study on the Situation in Switzerland, Northern Italy and Southern Germany During the Pandemic” and “Importance of SARS-CoV-2 Infections in Animals of COVID-19 Affected Households and Influence of Hygiene Standards”).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Keywords

COVID-19
Companion animals
Contamination
Domestic cat
Human-to-feline transmission
Neutralizing activity
Next generation sequencing
One-Health
SARS-CoV-2
Serology

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.3390/v13030496Licence: CC BY

viruses-13-00496-v3Final published version, 1.59 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

Klaus, J., Meli, M. L., Willi, B., Nadeau, S., Beisel, C., Stadler, T., Eth Sars-CoV-Sequencing Team, Egberink, H., Zhao, S., Lutz, H., Riond, B., Rösinger, N., Stalder, H., Renzullo, S., & Hofmann-Lehmann, R. (2021). Detection and Genome Sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 in a Domestic Cat with Respiratory Signs in Switzerland. Viruses, 13(3), 1-26. Article 496. https://doi.org/10.3390/v13030496

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title = "Detection and Genome Sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 in a Domestic Cat with Respiratory Signs in Switzerland",

abstract = "Since the emergence of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in late 2019, domestic cats have been demonstrated to be susceptible to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) under natural and experimental conditions. As pet cats often live in very close contact with their owners, it is essential to investigate SARS-CoV-2 infections in cats in a One-Health context. This study reports the first SARS-CoV-2 infection in a cat in a COVID-19-affected household in Switzerland. The cat (Cat 1) demonstrated signs of an upper respiratory tract infection, including sneezing, inappetence, and apathy, while the cohabiting cat (Cat 2) remained asymptomatic. Nasal, oral, fecal, fur, and environmental swab samples were collected twice from both cats and analyzed by RT-qPCR for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA. Both nasal swabs from Cat 1 tested positive. In addition, the first oral swab from Cat 2 and fur and bedding swabs from both cats were RT-qPCR positive. The fecal swabs tested negative. The infection of Cat 1 was confirmed by positive SARS-CoV-2 S1 receptor binding domain (RBD) antibody testing and neutralizing activity in a surrogate assay. The viral genome sequence from Cat 1, obtained by next generation sequencing, showed the closest relation to a human sequence from the B.1.1.39 lineage, with one single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) difference. This study demonstrates not only SARS-CoV-2 infection of a cat from a COVID-19-affected household but also contamination of the cats' fur and bed with viral RNA. Our results are important to create awareness that SARS-CoV-2 infected people should observe hygienic measures to avoid infection and contamination of animal cohabitants.",

keywords = "COVID-19, Companion animals, Contamination, Domestic cat, Human-to-feline transmission, Neutralizing activity, Next generation sequencing, One-Health, SARS-CoV-2, Serology",

author = "Julia Klaus and Meli, {Marina L} and Barbara Willi and Sarah Nadeau and Christian Beisel and Tanja Stadler and {Eth Sars-CoV-Sequencing Team} and Herman Egberink and Shan Zhao and Hans Lutz and Barbara Riond and Nina R{\"o}singer and Hanspeter Stalder and Sandra Renzullo and Regina Hofmann-Lehmann",

note = "Funding Information: Funding: The study was financially supported by a grant from the University of Zurich for exceptional research projects (“COVID-19 in a One-Health Context: Natural SARS-CoV-2 infection in animals and its implication for infection control”) and by the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (Bundesamt f{\"u}r Lebensmittelsicherheit und Veterin{\"a}rwesen, BLV: “COVID-19 and Domestic Animals: Study on the Situation in Switzerland, Northern Italy and Southern Germany During the Pandemic” and “Importance of SARS-CoV-2 Infections in Animals of COVID-19 Affected Households and Influence of Hygiene Standards”). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.",

year = "2021",

month = mar,

doi = "10.3390/v13030496",

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volume = "13",

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Klaus, J, Meli, ML, Willi, B, Nadeau, S, Beisel, C, Stadler, T, Eth Sars-CoV-Sequencing Team, , Egberink, H, Zhao, S, Lutz, H, Riond, B, Rösinger, N, Stalder, H, Renzullo, S & Hofmann-Lehmann, R 2021, 'Detection and Genome Sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 in a Domestic Cat with Respiratory Signs in Switzerland', Viruses, vol. 13, no. 3, 496, pp. 1-26. https://doi.org/10.3390/v13030496

TY - JOUR

T1 - Detection and Genome Sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 in a Domestic Cat with Respiratory Signs in Switzerland

AU - Klaus, Julia

AU - Meli, Marina L

AU - Willi, Barbara

AU - Nadeau, Sarah

AU - Beisel, Christian

AU - Stadler, Tanja

AU - Eth Sars-CoV-Sequencing Team, null

AU - Egberink, Herman

AU - Zhao, Shan

AU - Lutz, Hans

AU - Riond, Barbara

AU - Rösinger, Nina

AU - Stalder, Hanspeter

AU - Renzullo, Sandra

AU - Hofmann-Lehmann, Regina

N1 - Funding Information: Funding: The study was financially supported by a grant from the University of Zurich for exceptional research projects (“COVID-19 in a One-Health Context: Natural SARS-CoV-2 infection in animals and its implication for infection control”) and by the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (Bundesamt für Lebensmittelsicherheit und Veterinärwesen, BLV: “COVID-19 and Domestic Animals: Study on the Situation in Switzerland, Northern Italy and Southern Germany During the Pandemic” and “Importance of SARS-CoV-2 Infections in Animals of COVID-19 Affected Households and Influence of Hygiene Standards”). Publisher Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

PY - 2021/3

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N2 - Since the emergence of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in late 2019, domestic cats have been demonstrated to be susceptible to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) under natural and experimental conditions. As pet cats often live in very close contact with their owners, it is essential to investigate SARS-CoV-2 infections in cats in a One-Health context. This study reports the first SARS-CoV-2 infection in a cat in a COVID-19-affected household in Switzerland. The cat (Cat 1) demonstrated signs of an upper respiratory tract infection, including sneezing, inappetence, and apathy, while the cohabiting cat (Cat 2) remained asymptomatic. Nasal, oral, fecal, fur, and environmental swab samples were collected twice from both cats and analyzed by RT-qPCR for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA. Both nasal swabs from Cat 1 tested positive. In addition, the first oral swab from Cat 2 and fur and bedding swabs from both cats were RT-qPCR positive. The fecal swabs tested negative. The infection of Cat 1 was confirmed by positive SARS-CoV-2 S1 receptor binding domain (RBD) antibody testing and neutralizing activity in a surrogate assay. The viral genome sequence from Cat 1, obtained by next generation sequencing, showed the closest relation to a human sequence from the B.1.1.39 lineage, with one single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) difference. This study demonstrates not only SARS-CoV-2 infection of a cat from a COVID-19-affected household but also contamination of the cats' fur and bed with viral RNA. Our results are important to create awareness that SARS-CoV-2 infected people should observe hygienic measures to avoid infection and contamination of animal cohabitants.

AB - Since the emergence of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in late 2019, domestic cats have been demonstrated to be susceptible to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) under natural and experimental conditions. As pet cats often live in very close contact with their owners, it is essential to investigate SARS-CoV-2 infections in cats in a One-Health context. This study reports the first SARS-CoV-2 infection in a cat in a COVID-19-affected household in Switzerland. The cat (Cat 1) demonstrated signs of an upper respiratory tract infection, including sneezing, inappetence, and apathy, while the cohabiting cat (Cat 2) remained asymptomatic. Nasal, oral, fecal, fur, and environmental swab samples were collected twice from both cats and analyzed by RT-qPCR for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA. Both nasal swabs from Cat 1 tested positive. In addition, the first oral swab from Cat 2 and fur and bedding swabs from both cats were RT-qPCR positive. The fecal swabs tested negative. The infection of Cat 1 was confirmed by positive SARS-CoV-2 S1 receptor binding domain (RBD) antibody testing and neutralizing activity in a surrogate assay. The viral genome sequence from Cat 1, obtained by next generation sequencing, showed the closest relation to a human sequence from the B.1.1.39 lineage, with one single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) difference. This study demonstrates not only SARS-CoV-2 infection of a cat from a COVID-19-affected household but also contamination of the cats' fur and bed with viral RNA. Our results are important to create awareness that SARS-CoV-2 infected people should observe hygienic measures to avoid infection and contamination of animal cohabitants.

KW - COVID-19

KW - Companion animals

KW - Contamination

KW - Domestic cat

KW - Human-to-feline transmission

KW - Neutralizing activity

KW - Next generation sequencing

KW - One-Health

KW - SARS-CoV-2

KW - Serology

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DO - 10.3390/v13030496

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SP - 1

EP - 26

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JF - Viruses

IS - 3

M1 - 496

ER -

Detection and Genome Sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 in a Domestic Cat with Respiratory Signs in Switzerland

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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