Vigilância do SARS-CoV-2 em animais de companhia na região metropolitana do Recife, estado de Pernambuco

Abstract

The objective of this research was to carry out the surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in pets in the Metropolitan Region of Recife - PE with an interface with ONE HEALTH. This is a prospective longitudinal study carried out with dogs or cats in selected homes whose tutors were in home isolation with laboratory diagnosis by RT-QPCR for the SARS-CoV2. During the period from December 2020 to July 2021, 31 samples of presented and rectal swabs were collected from 16 dogs and 15 cats and taken to the TECSA Laboratory, located in the city of Belo Horizonte - MG, where RT-q-PCR molecular diagnostic tests were performed for the presence of RNA specific for SARS-CoV-2 in two target genes (N1 and N2). All samples were tested twice and the result was considered positive when both tests resulted positive. Furthermore, the positive samples were tested once again to confirm the presence of SARS-CoV-2. Among the animals tested, two cats (RE-02F and RE-04F) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-qPCR. Both had positive oropharyngeal swabs, RE-04F had a higher viral load (target N1: CT 31.65, 11,362 number of RNA copies /μL; target N2: CT 33.46, 19.2 number of copies/μL) in comparison to RE-02F (target N1: CT 34.49, 1.87 number of RNA copies / μL; target N2: CT 34.38, 10.65 RNA copies / μL). The animal named RE-04F also had a positive target by rectal swab (target N2: CT 36.7, 2.41 number of RNA copies /μL). Specific amplification of ACTB was demonstrated in all assays. The infection by SARS-Co-2 detected in the cats possibly occurred due to close cat-to-human contact with positive owners, including sharing the same bed and interacting without protection during isolation. In light of the findings, it is suggested that infected people have the same care regarding the distance from animals, a measure that is already taken to prevent the transmission of the new coronavirus between humans, to avoid infection of pets.