Serological Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 Exposure in Domestic Dogs and Cats, Thailand: Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant in Dogs Living in COVID-19-Positive Households
Issued Date
2024-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
18651674
eISSN
18651682
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85204140569
Journal Title
Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
Volume
2024
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Transboundary and Emerging Diseases Vol.2024 (2024)
Suggested Citation
Chaiyawong S., Charoenkul K., Jairak W., Udom K., Chamsai E., Techakriengkrai N., Suwannakarn K., Amonsin A. Serological Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 Exposure in Domestic Dogs and Cats, Thailand: Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant in Dogs Living in COVID-19-Positive Households. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases Vol.2024 (2024). doi:10.1155/2024/9938523 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/101315
Title
Serological Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 Exposure in Domestic Dogs and Cats, Thailand: Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant in Dogs Living in COVID-19-Positive Households
Author's Affiliation
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 causes the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Cross-species transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from humans to domestic animals has been reported. In this study, we conducted a serological survey and molecular investigation of SARS-CoV-2 infection in domestic dogs and cats in Bangkok and the vicinities from January 2021 to August 2022. A total of 2,664 serum samples were examined for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 using nucleocapsid protein-based ELISA (NP-ELISA). Our result showed 2.28% (33/1,446) seropositivity in dogs and 1.81% (22/1,218) in cats. The positive NP-ELISA serum samples were confirmed using a surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT). Of 55 seropositive samples by NP-ELISA, two dogs and 19 cats were confirmed seropositive by sVNT. Our result supported the serological evidence of SARS-CoV-2 exposure in domestic dogs and cats. We also investigated SARS-CoV-2 infection by real-time RT-PCR in 156 domestic dogs and cats in COVID-19-positive households. Our result showed active SARS-CoV-2 infection in a dog living with COVID-19 positive owner. Genetic and phylogenetic analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 from the dog and its owner confirmed the SARS-CoV-2 variant Omicron BA.2. It is the first report of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in pet living in COVID-19-positive household in Thailand.