Detection of neutralising antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in companion animals in Istanbul

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in late 2019 and rapidly spread throughout the world. After the susceptibility of various animals to SARS-CoV-2 infection was reported, the prevalence of COVID-19 infection in pet animals and their role in virus transmission became a source of concern. Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in pet animals has been reported from various parts of the world to date. In this study, 206 serum samples of household dogs and cats were obtained from a diagnostic laboratory in Istanbul. Ninety-nine of the samples were collected during the second wave (November and December 2020) of the pandemic, and 107 were collected between August and September 2021. Neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in companion animals was investigated by virus neutralization test. Among the 99 serum samples which were collected during the second wave (November and December 2020) of the pandemic, while no neutralizing antibodies were found in 61 sera of cats, one of 38 dogs was positive with a titer of 1/256. Similarly, 0/54 cats and 1/53 dogs were tested positive for the neutralizing antibodies among the samples collected between August and September 2021. This study is demonstrating the evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in dogs.