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. 2023 May 17;15(5):1187.
doi: 10.3390/v15051187.

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Terrestrial Animals in Southern Nigeria: Potential Cases of Reverse Zoonosis

Anise N Happi  1 , Akeemat O Ayinla  1 , Olusola A Ogunsanya  1 , Ayotunde E Sijuwola  1 , Femi M Saibu  1 , Kazeem Akano  1   2 , Uwem E George  1   2 , Adebayo E Sopeju  1 , Peter M Rabinowitz  3 , Kayode K Ojo  4 , Lynn K Barrett  4 , Wesley C Van Voorhis  4 , Christian T Happi  1   2
Affiliations

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Terrestrial Animals in Southern Nigeria: Potential Cases of Reverse Zoonosis

Anise N Happi et al. Viruses. .

Abstract

Since SARS-CoV-2 caused the COVID-19 pandemic, records have suggested the occurrence of reverse zoonosis of pets and farm animals in contact with SARS-CoV-2-positive humans in the Occident. However, there is little information on the spread of the virus among animals in contact with humans in Africa. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 in various animals in Nigeria. Overall, 791 animals from Ebonyi, Ogun, Ondo, and Oyo States, Nigeria were screened for SARS-CoV-2 using RT-qPCR (n = 364) and IgG ELISA (n = 654). SARS-CoV-2 positivity rates were 45.9% (RT-qPCR) and 1.4% (ELISA). SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in almost all animal taxa and sampling locations except Oyo State. SARS-CoV-2 IgGs were detected only in goats from Ebonyi and pigs from Ogun States. Overall, SARS-CoV-2 infectivity rates were higher in 2021 than in 2022. Our study highlights the ability of the virus to infect various animals. It presents the first report of natural SARS-CoV-2 infection in poultry, pigs, domestic ruminants, and lizards. The close human-animal interactions in these settings suggest ongoing reverse zoonosis, highlighting the role of behavioral factors of transmission and the potential for SARS-CoV-2 to spread among animals. These underscore the importance of continuous monitoring to detect and intervene in any eventual upsurge.

Keywords: Nigeria; SARS-CoV-2; domestic animals; non-domestic animals; reverse zoonosis; surveillance.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Map of Nigeria showing the sampling sites.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Comparison of PCR Ct Values in different animal species.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Comparison of SARS-CoV-2 PCR positivity rates in animals by location in Nigeria.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Temporal distribution of SARS-CoV-2 positivity using PCR in animal species in the sampling locations over the duration of study.
Figure 5
Figure 5
(a) Percentage variation of antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 in different animal species; (b) range of OD values for SRBD and N N-Term positive animals.
Figure 6
Figure 6
(a) Overall SARS-CoV-2 ELISA positivity in animal species; (b) comparison of ELISA positivity in animal species by location.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Temporal distribution of SARS-CoV-2 positivity using ELISA in animal species in the sampling locations over the duration of study.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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