跳至主要内容

Can the COVID-19 spread from person to pet? (But no dog transmission was found)

 Genetic studies have shown that the owner will pass the new coronavirus to dogs, but there is no evidence that dogs can pass the virus to humans.

The first two dogs reported to be infected with the new crown virus may have been infected by their owners, said researchers who study pets and family members of infected families in Hong Kong. Analysis of the gene sequence of the dog virus showed that these sequences are consistent with those of infected humans. 

The researchers suspect that the virus was passed from the owner to the dog, and direct genome associations strongly support this, said Malik Peiris, a virologist at the University of Hong Kong who led the study. This paper was published in "Nature". 

A Pomeranian in Hong Kong is one of the first dogs to test positive for the new coronavirus. 

Although this analysis confirms that humans infected with COVID-19 can pass the virus to dogs, the probability of such an event is very low, said Arjan Stegeman, a veterinary epidemiologist at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. In this study, 15 dogs lived with human infected persons, and only 2 dogs became infected. 

However, other scientists said that whether the new coronavirus can be transmitted between pets and whether they can be transmitted to humans requires proper research to prepare for future epidemic prevention and control.

Be vigilant

After a Pomeranian and a German Shepherd were reported to be infected with the virus in Hong Kong, other pets also tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, including a cat in Hong Kong and two cats in New York State. Four tigers and three lions at the Bronx Zoo in New York City also tested positive. Research on cats has found that cats can transmit the new coronavirus to other cats without symptoms.

The Hong Kong team’s research detected viral RNA and antibodies in both dogs, and a live virus in one of them. The symptoms of both dogs were not severe.

The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends that people infected with COVID-19 wear masks when caring for their pets. Infected people should also avoid petting, hugging or sharing food with pets, and wash their hands before and after contact.

The role of animals in the spread of the new coronavirus.

Kansas State University veterinary virologist Jürgen Richt said that in addition to protecting pets from virus infection, we also need to test more animals in close contact with humans as soon as possible, including labor animals and livestock, in order to understand their role in the spread of the virus. To this end, a special test kit for animals is needed. 

Richt also hopes to investigate whether pets will experience illness or specific symptoms. A common symptom of COVID-19 in humans is loss of smell. If dogs have similar symptoms, Richt believes that this may affect the performance of some police dogs, preventing them from sniffing out drugs, explosives and other contraband. 

Stegeman plans to test cats living with people infected with COVID-19. He said that as the interpersonal transmission rate continues to decline, it is very important to understand the position of domestic cats and stray cats in the transmission chain.

Peiris said that although the Hong Kong team’s study did not find evidence of dog-to-human transmission while trying to understand how the virus was initially transmitted to humans, it is necessary to consider the possible role of dogs and cats in the transmission chain. Researchers believe that SARS-CoV-2 may be derived from bats and passed to humans through an intermediate host, but this intermediate host is still unclear.

The current mainstream view is that the intermediate host came into contact with humans in a seafood market in Wuhan. Such markets sell dogs, cats and other mammals, and there are stray cats and dogs walking around freely, Peiris said. "The host range of the new coronavirus seems to be quite extensive. Dogs, cats and other close relatives of mammals are all questionable. They build a bridge between bats and humans," he said.

However, researchers are also concerned that reports of infections in cats and dogs may cause owners to abandon their pets. Earlier news reports stated that some people abandon their pets during the outbreak in Wuhan. "The danger we face is that people are afraid after hearing that their pets may carry the virus, and then decide to discard them." Richt said. 



Original author: Smriti Mallapaty


references:


1. Sit, T. H. C. et al. Nature https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2334-5 (2020).


The original article was published in the News section of Nature on May 14, 2020 with the title Dogs caught coronavirus from their owners, genetic analysis suggests.

标签：

评论

发表评论

此博客中的热门博文

What services can a dog collar manufacturer provide?

If you love animals, this opportunity is hard to miss, but starting a business from scratch requires more than an opportunity. If you're currently facing psychological questions (How can I find a good dog collar manufacturer?), know that every successful business owner starts from the same place. Successful pet business owners are not without fear, but what sets them apart is their willingness to face it. Building a pet store from scratch isn't easy, but you can catch the most important thing is you can find the right dog collar manufacturer which is worth having long-term cooperation with them -- it might not be as hard as you think. As long as your goal is clear enough, it can be very simple. So, how to judge whether a supplier is worth long-term cooperation? And what services can a good dog collar manufacturer provide? I hope this article can help you. Stable and fast delivery time From the delivery time, we can see the size of a supplier's company. An excellent supplier...
发表评论
阅读全文

How to make cats and dogs coexist peacefully, what should the owner do?

 I often hear people say that cats and dogs fight when they are together, and they must not be in the same room. But many people have dogs at home and want to have a cat. How to make this pair of pets live together under the same roof? In fact, as long as the following points are achieved, dogs and cats can also coexist peacefully.  If we let cats and dogs live together, we must first understand that some cats and dogs are inherently inappropriate. For example, large dogs trained to race or hunt. They will treat their cohabiting partners as targets for chasing and hunting. Similarly, some breeds of cats are not suitable for cohabiting with other animals. For example, the Siamese cat. Siamese cats are lively and active, get close to their owners, and will actively fight for the owner's "favor". But good at jealousy, easily jealous with puppies. Some docile cats, such as puppet cats and fold-eared cats, can be mixed with puppies....
发表评论
阅读全文

Improper use of dog collars can cause these 5 major hazards

The dog’s neck is a relatively weak place. When you pull the collar closer, the stimulus to the dog’s neck can well control the dog’s behavior.  However, improper use of the collar has a great hidden danger, which will endanger the dog’s life and safety. 1. Cause the dog to breathe If the dog’s collar is tightly fastened, the dog’s trachea will be compressed, resulting in poor breathing. If the dog is more naughty and pulls you forward, it will further oppress the trachea, which is prone to danger. If the dog runs around with a collar all the time, and accidentally gets caught by other things, it may also cause suffocation.  2. Affect blood transport Dog collars should not be worn for a long time. Dogs have arteries and veins in their necks. Long-term wearing will affect blood circulation. Insufficient blood supply to the brain leads to slow cell metabolism, resulting in damage to the dog's body functions.  3. Cause muscle strain When ...
发表评论
阅读全文