Open Access
Research (Published online: 16-11-2022)
11. First reported cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pets in São Paulo, Brazil
Rafael G. Agopian, Suellen C. G. da Luz, Alexandre G. B. Zebral, Giovanna F. de Sousa, Igor A. V. de Oliveira, Letícia S. Lima, Marcela A. Sechi, Mayara C. de Oliveira, Valéria F. Rudiniski, Daniel Friguglietti Brandespim, Otávio V. de Carvalho, Christina Pettan-Brewer, Andrea P. dos Santos, Louise B. Kmetiuk, and Alexander Welker Biondo
Veterinary World, 15(11): 2593-2596

Rafael G. Agopian: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary College, University of Santo Amaro (UNISA), São Paulo, Brazil.
Suellen C. G. da Luz: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary College, University of Santo Amaro (UNISA), São Paulo, Brazil.
Alexandre G. B. Zebral: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary College, University of Santo Amaro (UNISA), São Paulo, Brazil.
Giovanna F. de Sousa: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary College, University of Santo Amaro (UNISA), São Paulo, Brazil.
Igor A. V. de Oliveira: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary College, University of Santo Amaro (UNISA), São Paulo, Brazil.
Letícia S. Lima: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary College, University of Santo Amaro (UNISA), São Paulo, Brazil.
Marcela A. Sechi: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary College, University of Santo Amaro (UNISA), São Paulo, Brazil.
Mayara C. de Oliveira: Department of Medicine, University of Santo Amaro (UNISA), São Paulo, Brazil.
Valéria F. Rudiniski: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary College, University of Santo Amaro (UNISA), São Paulo, Brazil.
Daniel Friguglietti Brandespim: Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
Otávio V. de Carvalho: TECSA Animal Laboratories, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Christina Pettan-Brewer: Department of Comparative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Andrea P. dos Santos: Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
Louise B. Kmetiuk: Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
Alexander Welker Biondo: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.

doi: www.doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2022.2593-2596

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Article history: Received: 24-05-2022, Accepted: 03-10-2022, Published online: 16-11-2022

Corresponding author: Alexander Welker Biondo

E-mail: abiondo@ufpr.br

Citation: Agopian RG, da Luz SCG, Zebral AGB, de Sousa GF, de Oliveira IAV, Lima LS, Sechi MA, de Oliveira MC, Rudiniski VF, Brandespim DF, de Carvalho OV, Pettan-Brewer C, dos Santos AP, Kmetiuk LB, and Biondo AW (2022) First reported cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pets in São Paulo, Brazil, Veterinary World, 15(11): 2593–2596.
Abstract

Background and Aim: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the global coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) in humans in 2019. Although SARS-CoV-2 infection is primarily asymptomatic and transitory in companion animals, the role of these animals in the life cycle of the virus remains unclear. This study aimed to survey the first SARS-CoV-2 infection cases in pets, including a dog and three cats in São Paulo, Brazil.

Materials and Methods: We invited COVID-19-positive pet owners to participate in the survey and obtained nasal, oropharyngeal, and rectal swab samples from their pets. These samples were placed in vials and subjected to a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. In addition, the owners answered an epidemiological questionnaire, and the pets underwent clinical examination and monitoring.

Results: Out of 49 sampled pets, 3/19 (15.8%) cats and 1/30 (3.3%) dogs tested positive, with wide variations in viral loads. Despite the limitations of size and non-randomized sampling, our results showed that cats are more susceptible than dogs to SARS-CoV-2 infection, presenting a cat: dog ratio of 4.8: 1. Only one cat presented mild and transitory respiratory symptoms.

Conclusion: Although SARS-CoV-2 infection was detected in pets in the largest South American city and the COVID-19 epicenter at the time, these first detected pet cases displayed either none or mild clinical signs.

Keywords: novel coronavirus, One Health, veterinary medicine, zoonoses.