Surveillance and Molecular Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Non-Human Hosts in Gujarat, India

Dinesh Kumar, Sejalben P. Antiya, Sandipkumar S. Patel, Ramesh Pandit, Madhvi Joshi, Abhinava K. Mishra, Chaitanya G. Joshi and Arunkumar C. Patel ()
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Dinesh Kumar: Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC), Sector-11, Gandhinagar 382011, Gujarat, India
Sejalben P. Antiya: Department of Veterinary Microbiology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Sardarkrushinagar Campus, Kamdhenu University, Gandhinagar 382010, Gujarat, India
Sandipkumar S. Patel: Department of Veterinary Microbiology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Sardarkrushinagar Campus, Kamdhenu University, Gandhinagar 382010, Gujarat, India
Ramesh Pandit: Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC), Sector-11, Gandhinagar 382011, Gujarat, India
Madhvi Joshi: Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC), Sector-11, Gandhinagar 382011, Gujarat, India
Abhinava K. Mishra: Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Department, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
Chaitanya G. Joshi: Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC), Sector-11, Gandhinagar 382011, Gujarat, India
Arunkumar C. Patel: Department of Veterinary Microbiology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Sardarkrushinagar Campus, Kamdhenu University, Gandhinagar 382010, Gujarat, India

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 21, 1-11

Abstract: Since December 2019, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been spreading worldwide, triggering one of the most challenging pandemics in the human population. In light of the reporting of this virus in domestic and wild animals from several parts of the world, a systematic surveillance study was conceptualized to detect SARS-CoV-2 among species of veterinary importance. Nasal and/or rectal samples of 413 animals (dogs n= 195, cattle n = 64, horses n = 42, goats n = 41, buffaloes n = 39, sheep n = 19, cats n = 6, camels n = 6, and a monkey n = 1) were collected from different places in the Gujarat state of India. RNA was extracted from the samples and subjected to RT-qPCR-based quantification of the target sequences in viral nucleoprotein (N), spike (S), and ORF1ab genes. A total of 95 (23.79%) animals were found positive, comprised of n = 67 (34.35%) dogs, n= 15 (23.43%) cattle, and n = 13 (33.33%) buffaloes. Whole SARS-CoV-2 genome sequencing was done from one sample (ID-A4N, from a dog), where 32 mutations, including 29 single-nucleotide variations (SNV) and 2 deletions, were detected. Among them, nine mutations were located in the receptor binding domain of the spike (S) protein. The consequent changes in the amino acid sequence revealed T19R, G142D, E156-, F157-, A222V, L452R, T478K, D614G, and P681R mutations in the S protein and D63G, R203M, and D377Y in the N protein. The lineage assigned to this SARS-CoV-2 sequence is B.1.617.2. Thus, the present study highlights the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection from human to animals and suggests being watchful for zoonosis.

Keywords: buffalo; canine; cattle; delta variant; RT-qPCR; SARS-CoV-2 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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