Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from humans to a 16-year old domestic cat
with co-morbidities in Pennsylvania, USA.
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2),
besides causing human infection, has been shown to naturally infect
several susceptible animal species including large cats (tigers, lions,
pumas, spotted leopards), dogs, cats, ferrets, gorillas, and minks. We
report the detection of SARS-CoV-2 from a domestic cat that exhibited
respiratory disease after being exposed to SARS-CoV-2 virus from humans
in the same household. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in two oropharyngeal
swabs collected at two time points, 11 days apart; the first, when the
cat was reported to be sick and the second, before euthanasia due to
poor prognosis. The viral nucleic acid detected at two time points
showed no genomic variation and resembled the clade GH circulating in
humans in the United States. Clinical and pathological findings noted in
this 16-year-old cat were consistent with respiratory and cardiac
insufficiency. SARS-CoV-2 viral infection was likely an incidental
clinical finding, as virus was not detected in fixed lung, heart or
kidney tissues. Only fresh lung tissue collected at necropsy showed the
presence of viral nucleic acid, albeit at a very low level. Further
research is needed to clarify the clinical course of SARS-CoV-2 in
companion animals of advanced age and underlying cardiac disease.