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Case Reports
. 2021 Mar;68(2):973-976.
doi: 10.1111/tbed.13803. Epub 2020 Sep 14.

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in pets living with COVID-19 owners diagnosed during the COVID-19 lockdown in Spain: A case of an asymptomatic cat with SARS-CoV-2 in Europe

Ignacio Ruiz-Arrondo  1 , Aránzazu Portillo  1 , Ana M Palomar  1 , Sonia Santibáñez  1 , Paula Santibáñez  1 , Cristina Cervera  1 , José A Oteo  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in pets living with COVID-19 owners diagnosed during the COVID-19 lockdown in Spain: A case of an asymptomatic cat with SARS-CoV-2 in Europe

Ignacio Ruiz-Arrondo et al. Transbound Emerg Dis. 2021 Mar.

Abstract

Pets from COVID-19 owners were screened for SARS-CoV-2 (April-May 2020). From 23 pets, an asymptomatic cat showed positive RT-qPCRs results from oropharyngeal swab (negative rectal swab). Remaining pets were negative. This suggests that cats can contract the virus from their infected owners and may act as potential hosts for SARS-CoV-2. Their role in carrying live or infectious viruses and disseminating them needs more investigation.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Spain; animals; cat; pets.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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