Dados do Trabalho

Título

High seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 revealed by an ultrafast magnetic bead immunoassay in dogs: cleaning habits and street walks as risk factors for infection in shelter and foster home animals.

Introdução

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in December 2019 caused the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to over one million deaths and socioeconomic disruption. Animals such as dogs, cats, and non-human primates have been infected by the virus, and studies have shown that dogs can be experimentally infected. Detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies appears to be the best way to monitor virus circulation in animals.

Objetivo (s)

The main objective of this study was to identify the seroprevalence of dogs from shelters and house-hold, also analyzing the epidemiological factors related to the environment and management, as well as the coexistence of these animals with each other and with other species.

Material e Métodos

A cross-sectional study was conducted on dogs from tutors who agreed to participate in the project and from institutions that shelter animals, such as shelters run by Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), the Zoonoses Control Center - CCZ and temporary homes. To meet the objectives proposed for this group of animals, blood, oropharyngeal (or nasopharyngeal) and rectal secretions were collected from each animal in a single moment, and the epidemiological questionnaire was answered by the person responsible for the animal or shelter.

Resultados e Conclusão

Samples were collected from 111 dogs for the study, resulting in 222 swabs. All samples were negative by RT-qPCR and showed the same pattern as the negative control. 89 samples were evaluated using the magnetic ELISA, in which 18 animals had IgG antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 N protein and none of the evaluated animals reacted to the Spike protein. The variables “did you change cleaning habits after the pandemic?,” “how often do you clean the house/shelter?” and “Does the guardian or person in charge walk the animal?” had a statistically significant association in the model used through multivariate analysis. Sixty-six blood samples were evaluated, all without major variations compared to the blood count reference values. The results presented by the present study indicate that dogs can present anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, even in the absence of active infection. We infer that the environment in which dogs live, the population density of dogs and humans, the presence of other species, the affectionate relationship with humans, cleaning habits and walks in the urban environment are factors that can condition the infection by SARS-CoV -2 in dogs.

Palavras-chave

Companion animals; coronavirus; COVID-19; pets; transmission

Agradecimentos

CAPES, FAPESB, BioManguinhos, Centro de Controle de Zoonoses