Evidence of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in domestic cats living with owners with a history of COVID-19 in Lima – Peru
Luis M. Jara,
Cusi Ferradas,
Francesca Schiaffino,
Camila Sánchez-Carrión,
Ana Martínez-Vela,
Alexandra Ulloa,
Gisela Isasi-Rivas,
Angela Montalván,
Luis Guevara Sarmiento,
Manolo Fernández,
Mirko Zimic
Affiliations
Luis M. Jara
Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru; Corresponding author at: Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Av. Honorio Delgado 430, San Martin de Porres, Lima, Peru.
Cusi Ferradas
Unidad de Investigación en Enfermedades Emergentes y Cambio Climático (Emerge), Facultad de Salud Pública y Administración, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
Francesca Schiaffino
Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
Camila Sánchez-Carrión
Clínica Veterinaria Gatuario, Lima, Peru
Ana Martínez-Vela
Clínica Veterinaria Los Dominicos, Lima, Peru
Alexandra Ulloa
Clínica Veterinaria Gatuario, Lima, Peru
Gisela Isasi-Rivas
Farmacológicos Veterinarios (FARVET), Chincha, Peru
Angela Montalván
Farmacológicos Veterinarios (FARVET), Chincha, Peru
Luis Guevara Sarmiento
Farmacológicos Veterinarios (FARVET), Chincha, Peru
Manolo Fernández
Farmacológicos Veterinarios (FARVET), Chincha, Peru
Mirko Zimic
Farmacológicos Veterinarios (FARVET), Chincha, Peru; Laboratorio de Bioinformática, Biología Molecular y Desarrollos Tecnológicos, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
SARS-CoV-2 can infect a variety of wild and domestic animals worldwide. Of these, domestic cats are highly susceptible species and potential viral reservoirs. As such, it is important to investigate disease exposure in domestic cats in areas with active community transmission and high disease prevalence. In this report we demonstrate the presence of serum neutralizing antibodies against the receptor binding-domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 in cats whose owners had been infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Lima, Peru, using a commercial competitive ELISA SARS-CoV-2 Surrogate Virus Neutralization Test. Out of 41 samples, 17.1% (7/41) and 31.7% (13/41) were positive, using the cut-off inhibition value of 30% and 20%, respectively. Not all cats living in a single house had detectable neutralizing antibodies showing heterogenous exposure and immunity among cohabiting animals. This is the first report of SARS-COV-2 exposure of domestic cats in Lima, Peru. Further studies are required to ascertain the prevalence of SARS-COV-2 exposure among domestic cats.
