Human-tocat Covid transmission identified
Two cases of human-to-cat transmission of Covid-19 have been identified by researchers.
Scientists from the University of Glasgow found the cases ofsars-cov-2transmissionas partofascreeningprogramme of the feline population in the UK.
The cats, of different breeds, were living in separate households and displayed mild to severe respiratory signs.
Researchersbelievebothpets were infected by their owners, who had Covid-19 symptoms before the cats became unwell.
The study, published in the Veterinary Record, said there is currently no evidence of catto-humantransmissionorthat cats,dogsorotherdomesticanimals play any appreciable role in the epidemiology of human Covid infections.
But the scientists said domesticanimalscouldpotentiallyact as a "viral reservoir" allowing continued transmission, and said it is important to improve understanding of whether pets can play a role in infecting humans.
Professor Margaret Hosie, from the Mrc-university of Glasgow Centre for Virus Researchandleadauthorofthe study, said: "These two cases of human-to-animal transmission, found in the feline population in the UK, demonstrate why it is important that we improve our understanding of animal SARS-COV-2 infection.
"Currently, animal-to-human transmission represents a relativelylowrisktopublichealthin areaswherehuman-to-human transmission remains high.
"However as human cases decrease, the prospect of transmission among animals becomes increasingly important as a potential source of SARS-COV-2 reintroduction to humans. "
Researchers at the centre worked in partnership with the Veterinary Diagnostic Service (VDS) at the university's School of Veterinary Medicine on the study.
Thefirstcatwasafour-montholdfemaleragdollkittenfroma household in which the owner developedsymptomsthatwere consistent with SARS-COV-2 infection at the end of March 2020, although they were not tested.
The kitten was taken to a vet with breathing difficulties in April 2020 but its condition deteriorated and it later had to be put down.
Post-mortem lung samples revealed damage consistent with a viral pneumonia and there was evidence of SARSCOV-2 infection.
The second cat was a sixyear-old female Siamese from a household where one owner tested positive for Covid-19.
The cat was taken to the vet with nasal discharge and conjunctivitis, but its symptoms remained mild and the cat later recovered.
Covid-19 infection was confirmed
in a retrospective survey of swabs submitted to VDS between March and July 2020 for routine pathogen testing.
Scientists believe the two cases are likely to be an underestimate of the true frequency of
human-to-animal transmission, as animal testing is limited. It is not known whether cats with Covid-19 could naturally transmit the virus to other animals, or back to humans.
There have been reports of
catsfromcovid-positivehouseholds in countries including Hong Kong, Belgium, the USA, France and Spain that tested positive for SARS-COV-2.