Persistent SARS-CoV-2 antigen presence in multiple organs of a naturally infected cat from Brazil

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the etiological agent of the disease coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) in humans. SARS-CoV-2 has been identified in cats with or without clinical signs. We describe the pathological and molecular findings in a six-month-old asymptomatic cat w...

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Published inThe journal of venomous animals and toxins including tropical diseases Vol. 28; p. e20210074
Main Authors Jarrah, Samar Afif, Kmetiuk, Louise Bach, de Carvalho, Otávio Valério, de Sousa, Alessandra Tammy Hayakawa Ito, Souza, Valeria Regia Franco, Nakazato, Luciano, Colodel, Edson Moleta, Dos Santos, Andrea Pires, Pettan-Brewer, Christina, Hahn, Rosane Christine, Slhessarenko, Renata Dezengrini, Ubiali, Daniel Guimarães, Pereira, Asheley Henrique Barbosa, de Morais, Helio Autran, Biondo, Alexander Welker, Dutra, Valéria
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Portuguese
Published Brazil Centro de Estudos de Venenos e Animais Peçonhentos - CEVAP, Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP 2022
Centro de Estudos de Venenos e Animais Peçonhentos (CEVAP/UNESP)
SciELO
Subjects
Case Report
Cats
Coronavirus
Disease transmission
Pets
SARS-CoV-2
TOXICOLOGY
TROPICAL MEDICINE
Pets
Cats
SARS-CoV-2
Coronavirus
Disease transmission
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Summary:Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the etiological agent of the disease coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) in humans. SARS-CoV-2 has been identified in cats with or without clinical signs. We describe the pathological and molecular findings in a six-month-old asymptomatic cat with SARS-CoV-2 infection from Brazil, belonging to a human family with COVID-19 cases. The pool of nasopharynx and oropharynx swabs at day zero tested positive by RT-qPCR for SARS-CoV-2. No amplification resulted from molecular testing performed on days 7 and 14. The cat was hit by a car and died 43 days after the molecular diagnosis. Immunohistochemistry at examination demonstrated nucleocapsid protein in samples from the lungs, kidneys, nasal conchae, trachea, intestine, brain and spleen. The present study has highlighted the possibility that viral antigens can be detected by immunohistochemistry in multiple organs six weeks after infection, although the same tissues tested negative by RT-PCR.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Case Study-2
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
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ObjectType-Report-1
Competing interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Authors’ contributions: SAJ, ATHIS and VRFS performed data collection, clinical evaluation and contributed to the Results and Discussion sections of the manuscript. EMC performed necropsy and was in charge of the Results and Discussion sections of the manuscript. DGU and AHBP performed histopathology and immunohistochemistry analyses and wrote the Results and Discussion sections of the manuscript. OVC, LN and VD performed molecular analyses of animal samples, and wrote the Results and Discussion sections of the manuscript. RCH and RDS performed molecular analyses of owner samples, and wrote the Results and Discussion sections of the manuscript. LBK, APS, CPB, HAM and AWB wrote the first draft and participated in all sections of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
ISSN:1678-9199
1678-9199
DOI:10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2021-0074