Infection of dogs with SARS-CoV-2

Thomas H. C. Sit, Christopher J. Brackman, Sin Ming Ip, Karina W. S. Tam, Pierra Y. T. Law, Esther M. W. To, Veronica Y. T. Yu, Leslie D. Sims, Dominic N. C. Tsang, Daniel K. W. Chu, Ranawaka A. P. M. Perera, Leo L. M. Poon and Malik Peiris ()
Additional contact information
Thomas H. C. Sit: Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Government of the Hong Kong SAR, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Christopher J. Brackman: Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Government of the Hong Kong SAR, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Sin Ming Ip: Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Government of the Hong Kong SAR, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Karina W. S. Tam: Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Government of the Hong Kong SAR, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Pierra Y. T. Law: Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Government of the Hong Kong SAR, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Esther M. W. To: Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Government of the Hong Kong SAR, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Veronica Y. T. Yu: Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Government of the Hong Kong SAR, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Leslie D. Sims: Asia Pacific Veterinary Information Services
Dominic N. C. Tsang: Public Health Laboratory Centre, Centre for Health Protection, Department of Health, Government of the Hong Kong SAR, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Daniel K. W. Chu: School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Ranawaka A. P. M. Perera: School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Leo L. M. Poon: School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Malik Peiris: School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

Nature, 2020, vol. 586, issue 7831, 776-778

Abstract: Abstract Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first detected in Wuhan in December 2019 and caused coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)1,2. In 2003, the closely related SARS-CoV had been detected in domestic cats and a dog3. However, little is known about the susceptibility of domestic pet mammals to SARS-CoV-2. Here, using PCR with reverse transcription, serology, sequencing the viral genome and virus isolation, we show that 2 out of 15 dogs from households with confirmed human cases of COVID-19 in Hong Kong were found to be infected with SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in five nasal swabs collected over a 13-day period from a 17-year-old neutered male Pomeranian. A 2.5-year-old male German shepherd was positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA on two occasions and virus was isolated from nasal and oral swabs. Antibody responses were detected in both dogs using plaque-reduction-neutralization assays. Viral genetic sequences of viruses from the two dogs were identical to the virus detected in the respective human cases. The dogs remained asymptomatic during quarantine. The evidence suggests that these are instances of human-to-animal transmission of SARS-CoV-2. It is unclear whether infected dogs can transmit the virus to other animals or back to humans.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2334-5

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