SARS-Corona Virus Type-2 Detection of Cohabiting Feline with COVID-Positive Individuals in Bandung, Indonesia

Abstract

Since people and domesticated animals have lived together for a long time, it is possible that diseases could be spread by accident, as happened with SARS-CoV-2. There have been reports of cats in Italy, Spain, and France being exposed to SARS-CoV-2. Not much is known about how farmed animals were exposed to SARS-CoV-2 in Indonesia, which was named the epicenter of COVID-19 in July 2021. The study's goal was to determine if SARS-CoV-2 was present in felines living with people who had COVID-19 in the Bandung, Indonesia, area. Nineteen felines were used in the study. These felines came from seven people who had tested positive for COVID-19. For RT-qPCR testing, samples were taken from the nose, oropharynx, and rectal areas. Blood sera were taken for quick IgM/IgG antibody tests for SARS CoV-2. Using RT-qPCR on nasopharyngeal samples from the felines being studied, it has been seen that four of them have tested positive. But it is interesting to note that only one of these people could be found using a rectal test. There was no clear sign of antibody formation when IgM/IgG rapid test results from blood samples were looked at. The felines that showed positive results were very close to their caretakers and had symptoms that were similar to those of influenza. The results of our study show that there is a chance that SARS-CoV-2 could be passed on to felines who live with people who have COVID-19. Because of this finding, more study needs to be done in this area.