Coronavirus can pass from one cat to another, but not between dogs

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We have all once discussed the various advantages and disadvantages of the most popular pets. The current health crisis offers a new argument that, in principle, seems to be detrimental to cats, but also more similar to us: cats, according to a new Chinese study, can relatively easily contract the coronavirus, something that is very most unlikely among dogs. But there are several points to qualify.

First of all, it is not proven that any of these animals can infect humans . Furthermore, it is not yet known to what extent their responses to the virus under laboratory conditions would pose a threat in real life. Finally, one of the objectives of the research is to find species that can help test the much-needed vaccine against Covid-19, the only remedy that would end the current global alarm.

"We have found that SARS-CoV-2 replicates poorly in dogs, pigs, chickens and ducks, but effectively in ferrets and cats," concludes the research, conducted by the Harbin Veterinary Research Institute (China).

The scientists inoculated the pandemic-causing SARS-CoV-2 into the airways of five eight-month-old domestic cats. Two of them were euthanized six days later, and both found the virus's RNA and infectious particles in their upper respiratory tract, without invading the lungs. The rest were placed in cages with three healthy cats, of which only one ended up infected.

The results, still preliminary, suggest that these animals can infect each other through inhaled particles in the air. But it would be a limited process. Only one cat was infected in this way, and of the four who had the coronavirus , all developed antibodies against it, without any becoming ill .

When the process was replicated in younger cats, between 70 and 100 days old, the infection was greater and, in this case, it did attack the lungs. "The results indicate that SARS-CoV-2 can replicate effectively in cats, with young cats being more susceptible and, perhaps more importantly, that the virus can be transmitted between cats through respiratory drops," the scientists argue. Chinese.

Despite the fact that two cases of dogs with coronavirus have been reported in Hong Kong, the truth is that these animals proved to be very little susceptible to the virus during the experiment. Five three-month-old beagle dogs were exposed to the pathogen and isolated in one room along with two others. Viral RNA was only detected in the faeces of two of them, and none developed the respiratory tract infection . "These results indicate that dogs are poorly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2," the study authors conclude.

Chickens, pigs and ducks also showed no signs of being susceptible to the virus. But ferrets, a species sometimes used to test infections that affect humans, did turn out to be. As with older cats, the virus managed to invade only their upper respiratory system, "without causing serious illness or death." Researchers see these mammals as clinical potential to test new treatments .

"The fact that SARS-CoV-2 replicates effectively in ferrets' respiratory tracts makes them a candidate animal model for evaluating antiviral drugs or proposed Covid-19 vaccines," the Chinese researchers propose.

The study has been pre-published in the bioRxiv biological research repository. The prestigious Nature has published on its website the results, still pending from the peer review process, which constitutes the endorsement of the scientific community. In the case of a matter related to the pandemic, it is usual for this mechanism to be accelerated or, as in this case, a previous version of the work be advanced and made available to the public.

In any case, more work will be needed to confirm and clarify the results, which say nothing about the ability to infect humans or not of the different species analyzed.

Hygiene and precautions with pets

Experts do not recommend the use of masks for pets, as it is not clear that they are effective for them and could cause respiratory problems. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recalls that "there is no evidence that companion animals, including pets, can spread Covid-19," and recommends washing hands thoroughly after touching animals. , their food or objects , as well as keeping both dogs and cats with perfect hygiene. And, of course, ask any questions with veterinarians.

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Campaign suggests, for its part, that "it is possible for a person with Covid-19 to sneeze or otherwise contaminate their pet, and then another person may touch that animal and contract the disease." , although he clarifies that "veterinary experts believe that the risk of transmission would be low."

In any case, indicates this academic institution, " animals living with sick people should be kept away from other people and animals (in domestic quarantine), just as people living with sick individuals should avoid contact with others."

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