Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Ana Pilar Tobajas
Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
María Dolores Pérez
Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Ana González
Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Maite Verde
Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Andrés Yzuel
Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Ana García-García
Institute for Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Mariano Esquillor s/n, Campus Rio Ebro, Edificio I+D, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Víctor Taleb
Institute for Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Mariano Esquillor s/n, Campus Rio Ebro, Edificio I+D, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Erandi Lira-Navarrete
Institute for Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Mariano Esquillor s/n, Campus Rio Ebro, Edificio I+D, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Ramón Hurtado-Guerrero
Institute for Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Mariano Esquillor s/n, Campus Rio Ebro, Edificio I+D, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Julián Pardo
Aragon I+D Foundation (ARAID), 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
Llipsy Santiago
Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
José Ramón Paño
Infectious Disease Department, University Hospital Lozano Blesa, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Héctor Ruíz
Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Delia Lacasta
Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Antonio Fernández
Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Animal infections with SARS-CoV-2 have been reported in different countries and several animal species have been proven to be susceptible to infection with SARS-CoV-2 both naturally and by experimental infection. Moreover, infections under natural conditions in more than 20 mink farms have been reported where humans could have been the source of infection for minks. However, little information is available about the susceptibility of pet animals under natural conditions and currently there is no SARS-CoV-2 epidemiological assessment occurrence in household ferrets. In this study, the presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was evaluated in serum samples obtained from 127 household ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) in the Province of Valencia (Spain). Two ferrets tested positive to SARS-CoV-2 (1.57%) by in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on receptor binding domain (RBD) of Spike antigen. Furthermore, anti-RBD SARS-CoV-2 antibodies persisted at detectable levels in a seropositive SARS-CoV-2 domestic ferret beyond 129 days since the first time antibodies were detected. This study reports for the first time the evidence of household pet ferrets exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in Spain to date.
