No cases in India but pets can spread corona: Experts
LUCKNOW: Cats and other fur animals like mink can harbour and spread coronavirus infection among humans, suggests a team of epidemiologists of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) which conducted a metaanalysis of known Covid-19 infections in animals across the globe.
Epidemiology is the branch of medicine which deals with the incidence, distribution and possible control of diseases and other factors relating to health.
No cases of infection in animals have been reported in India. But the experts examined the known cases of Covid-19 infections reported in animals across the globe since the pandemic broke out. They published their findings in form of a report and submitted it to the ICAR on August 8. It was also presented in an international e-conference on immunology held earlier this month.
Now on the basis of their findings, the ICAR has directed them to suggest ways of controlling spread and cross-infection between animals and humans.
“We examined Covid-19 cases reported in cats, dogs, tigers, lions and mink across the world. More than a dozen such cases have been reported according to the World Organisation of Animal Health (OIE). We have examined OIE’s findings on these cases,” said Bhoj Raj Singh who headed the team that published the report.
Singh is head of epidemiology department at Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), one of the several research institutes under ICAR. The said report has also been shared with the health department.
The cases studied include that of Buddy, a pet German Shepherd who contacted Covid-19. Buddy was euthanised on July 11. They also studied the death of a German cat owner who died of Covid-19 and his cat also tested positive. The reported incidents of minks infected by Covid-19 transmitting the infection to humans were also examined. After the revelation, the local authorities in Spain ordered to cull minks in the region.
Covid-19 is a zoonotic infection that can infect both humans and animals. Reportedly around 60% of all known infectious diseases and close to 75 of new emerging infectious diseases (SARS, Covid) are zoonotic in nature, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
“Known instances of Covid-19 infection have been recorded specially in dogs and cats which are usually kept as pets. Cats have more probability of transmitting the infection to humans because they have a tendency of harbouring large amounts of virus particles (viral load) in their mucous. The viral load in mucous of infected dogs is less,” said Singh. “We must consider these findings and push for a holistic approach in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic that includes both humans and animals.”
The team also found that ruminating cattle like cows and buffaloes and equine animals (horses) did not get infected by Covid-19 and thus could not transmit the virus to humans. “The findings will be useful for pet owners, veterinarians, zoos and national parks,” Singh said.