Frontiers in Veterinary Science (Oct 2020)

Natural Infection by SARS-CoV-2 in Companion Animals: A Review of Case Reports and Current Evidence of Their Role in the Epidemiology of COVID-19

  • Helio Autran de Morais,
  • Andrea Pires dos Santos,
  • Naila Cannes do Nascimento,
  • Louise Bach Kmetiuk,
  • David Soeiro Barbosa,
  • Paulo Eduardo Brandão,
  • Ana Marcia Sá Guimarães,
  • Christina Pettan-Brewer,
  • Alexander Welker Biondo

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.591216
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7

Abstract

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Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), responsible for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is the causative infectious agent of the current pandemic. As researchers and health professionals are still learning the capabilities of this virus, public health concerns arise regarding the zoonotic potential of SARS-CoV-2. With millions of people detected with SARS-CoV-2 worldwide, reports of companion animals possibly infected with the virus started to emerge. Therefore, our aim is to review reported cases of animals naturally infected with SARS-CoV-2, particularly companion pets, shedding light on the role of these animals in the epidemiology of COVID-19.

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