Emerging Infectious Diseases (Nov 2023)

Neurologic Effects of SARS-CoV-2 Transmitted among Dogs

  • Dong-Hwi Kim,
  • Da-Yoon Kim,
  • Kyu-Sung Kim,
  • Sang-Hoon Han,
  • Hyeon-Jeong Go,
  • Jae-Hyeong Kim,
  • Kyu-Beom Lim,
  • Dong-Hun Lee,
  • Joong-Bok Lee,
  • Seung-Yong Park,
  • Chang-Seon Song,
  • Sang-Won Lee,
  • Yang-Kyu Choi,
  • Yeun-Kyung Shin,
  • Oh-Kyu Kwon,
  • Do-Geun Kim,
  • In-Soo Choi

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2911.230804
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 29, no. 11
pp. 2275 – 2284

Abstract

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SARS-CoV-2 induces illness and death in humans by causing systemic infections. Evidence suggests that SARS-CoV-2 can induce brain pathology in humans and other hosts. In this study, we used a canine transmission model to examine histopathologic changes in the brains of dogs infected with SARS-CoV-2. We observed substantial brain pathology in SARS-CoV-2–infected dogs, particularly involving blood–brain barrier damage resembling small vessel disease, including changes in tight junction proteins, reduced laminin levels, and decreased pericyte coverage. Furthermore, we detected phosphorylated tau, a marker of neurodegenerative disease, indicating a potential link between SARS-CoV-2–associated small vessel disease and neurodegeneration. Our findings of degenerative changes in the dog brain during SARS-CoV-2 infection emphasize the potential for transmission to other hosts and induction of similar signs and symptoms. The dynamic brain changes in dogs highlight that even asymptomatic individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 may develop neuropathologic changes in the brain.

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