Frontiers in Veterinary Science (Feb 2023)

SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in dogs and cats in a highly infected area of Brazil during the pandemic

  • Samar Afif Jarrah,
  • Louise Bach Kmetiuk,
  • Fabrizia Valleriani,
  • Barbara Bonfini,
  • Alessio Lorusso,
  • Violetta Vasinioti,
  • Nicola Decaro,
  • Marco Tulio dos Santos,
  • Kledir Anderson Hofstaetter Spohr,
  • Annamaria Pratelli,
  • Anna Serroni,
  • Sara Capista,
  • Valéria Regia Franco Sousa,
  • Alexander Welker Biondo,
  • Luciano Nakazato,
  • Valéria Dutra

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1111728
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10

Abstract

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SARS-CoV-2 was a worldwide threat during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the state of Mato Grosso had the second highest mortality rate in Brazil, with 427. 4 deaths/100,000 inhabitants. However, no large-scale study among dogs and cats in such highly infected areas of Brazil has so far been conducted. Accordingly, the present study reports on a serosurvey among dogs and cats in Cuiabá, capital of Mato Grosso from November 2020 to July 2021, where the human mortality rate was 605/100,000 at that time. Overall, 33/762 dogs (4.3%) and 4/182 cats (2.2%) were found to be seropositive for SARS-CoV-2 through ELISA, and 3/762 dogs (0.4%) and 3/182 cats (1.6%) were seropositive through the serum neutralization test. Cats presented higher seroprevalence with higher titers of neutralizing antibodies. Although N-protein based ELISA may be a good screening test, cross-reactivity with other canine coronaviruses may impair its diagnostic use among dogs.

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