SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence Studies in Pets, Spain

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Infectious Diseases
• Epidemiology

Background:

• SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) can infect domestic animals, including cats and dogs.
• The zoonotic nature of COVID-19 necessitates animal surveillance, especially given the short virus shedding period in pets.
• Seroprevalence studies are crucial for identifying past infections in animals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct an extensive serosurvey of pets in Spain over 23 months.
• To assess the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in various pet populations.
• To evaluate the correlation between human COVID-19 incidence and pet seropositivity.

Main Methods:

• A 23-month serosurvey was conducted on pets in Spain.
• Included animals with known exposure to infected humans, random animals, and strays.
• Epidemiological variables, including human accumulated incidence and spatial location, were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 were detected in 3.59% of the surveyed animals.
• A significant correlation was observed between the incidence of COVID-19 in humans and antibody positivity in pets.
• The study identified a higher prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pets than previously reported through molecular methods.

Conclusions:

• Pets are more frequently infected with SARS-CoV-2 than previously thought.
• The findings underscore the importance of monitoring animal populations for zoonotic diseases.
• Preventive strategies are needed to mitigate the risk of reverse zoonosis events from pets to humans.