Genomic investigation of a household SARS-CoV-2 disease cluster in Arizona involving a cat, dog, and pet owner
Hayley D. Yaglom,
Gavriella Hecht,
Andrew Goedderz,
Daniel Jasso-Selles,
Jennifer L. Ely,
Irene Ruberto,
Jolene R. Bowers,
David M. Engelthaler,
Heather Venkat
Affiliations
Hayley D. Yaglom
Translational Genomics Research Institute, Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, 3051 W. Shamrell Blvd Ste. 106, Flagstaff, AZ 86005, USA; Corresponding author.
Gavriella Hecht
Arizona Department of Health Services, Office of Infectious Disease Services, 150 North 18th Avenue, Suite 140, Phoenix, AZ 85007, United States of America
Andrew Goedderz
Translational Genomics Research Institute, Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, 3051 W. Shamrell Blvd Ste. 106, Flagstaff, AZ 86005, USA
Daniel Jasso-Selles
Translational Genomics Research Institute, Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, 3051 W. Shamrell Blvd Ste. 106, Flagstaff, AZ 86005, USA
Jennifer L. Ely
Translational Genomics Research Institute, Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, 3051 W. Shamrell Blvd Ste. 106, Flagstaff, AZ 86005, USA
Irene Ruberto
Arizona Department of Health Services, Office of Infectious Disease Services, 150 North 18th Avenue, Suite 140, Phoenix, AZ 85007, United States of America
Jolene R. Bowers
Translational Genomics Research Institute, Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, 3051 W. Shamrell Blvd Ste. 106, Flagstaff, AZ 86005, USA
David M. Engelthaler
Translational Genomics Research Institute, Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, 3051 W. Shamrell Blvd Ste. 106, Flagstaff, AZ 86005, USA
Heather Venkat
Arizona Department of Health Services, Office of Infectious Disease Services, 150 North 18th Avenue, Suite 140, Phoenix, AZ 85007, United States of America; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Center for Preparedness and Response, Career Epidemiology Field Officer Program, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
Arizona's COVID-19 and Pets Program is a prospective surveillance study being conducted to characterize how SARS-CoV-2 impacts companion animals living in households with SARS-CoV-2-positive individuals. Among the enrolled pets, we identified a SARS-CoV-2-infected cat and dog from the same household; both animals were asymptomatic but had close contact with the symptomatic and SARS-CoV-2-positive owner. Whole genome sequencing of animal and owner specimens revealed identical viral genomes of the B.1.575 lineage, suggesting zoonotic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from human to at least one pet. This is the first report of the B.1.575 lineage in companion animals. Genetically linking SARS-CoV-2 between people and animals, and tracking changes in SARS-CoV-2 genomes is essential to detect any cross-species SARS-CoV-2 transmission that may lead to more transmissible or severe variants that can affect humans. Surveillance studies, including genomic analyses of owner and pet specimens, are needed to further our understanding of how SARS-CoV-2 impacts companion animals.
