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Fernández-Bastit L, Cano-Terriza D, Caballero-Gómez J, Beato-Benítez A, Fernández A, García-Párraga D, Domingo M, Sierra C, Canales R, Borragan S, de la Riva-Fraga M, Molina-López R, Cabezón Ó, Puig-Ribas M, Espunyes J, Vázquez-Calero DB, Vergara-Alert J, García-Bocanegra I, Segalés J. Survey of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in captive and free-ranging wildlife from Spain. Vet Res 2024; 55:90. [PMID: 39030652 PMCID: PMC11264983 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-024-01348-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), considered a zoonotic agent of wildlife origin, can infect various animal species, including wildlife in free-range and captive environments. Detecting susceptible species and potential reservoirs is crucial for preventing the transmission, spread, genetic evolution, and further emergence of viral variants that are major threats to global health. This study aimed to detect exposure or acute infection by SARS-CoV-2 in 420 animals from 40 different wildlife species, including terrestrial and aquatic mammals, from different regions of Spain during the 2020-2023 coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic. In total, 8/137 animals were positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies against the receptor binding domain and/or viral nucleoprotein according to independent ELISAs. However, only one ELISA-positive sample of a captive bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies with a low titre (SNT50 38.15) according to a virus neutralization test. Cetaceans are expected to have a high risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2 according to early predictive studies due to the similarity of their angiotensin converting enzyme 2 cell receptor to that of humans. Moreover, of 283 animals analysed for SARS-CoV-2 RNA using RT-qPCR, none tested positive. Our results reinforce the importance of considering cetaceans at risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection and support taking preventive biosecurity measures when interacting with them, especially in the presence of individuals with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. Although most animals in this study tested negative for acute infection or viral exposure, ongoing surveillance of wildlife species and potentially susceptible animals is important to prevent future spillover events and detect potential novel reservoirs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leira Fernández-Bastit
- Unitat Mixta d'Investigació IRTA-UAB en Sanitat Animal. Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08139, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
- IRTA, Programa de Sanitat Animal, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Cano-Terriza
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, 14014, Córdoba, Spain
- CIBERINFEC, ISCIII-CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Caballero-Gómez
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, 14014, Córdoba, Spain
- CIBERINFEC, ISCIII-CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029, Madrid, Spain
- Maimonides Institute for Biomedical Research of Cordoba, Reina Sofía University Hospital, University of Córdoba, 14004, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Adrián Beato-Benítez
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, 14014, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Antonio Fernández
- Atlantic Cetacean Research Center, Institute of Animal Health, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35001, Las Palmas, Trasmontaña, Spain
| | - Daniel García-Párraga
- Research Department, Fundación Oceanografic de la Comunitat Valenciana, Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, 46013, Valencia, Spain
| | - Mariano Domingo
- Unitat Mixta d'Investigació IRTA-UAB en Sanitat Animal. Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08139, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
- Veterinary Pathology Diagnostic Service, Autonomous University of Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Sanitat I Anatomia Animals, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cecilia Sierra
- Selwo Aventura, 29680, Estepona, Málaga, Spain
- Selwo Marina, 29630, Benalmádena, Málaga, Spain
| | | | - Santiago Borragan
- Parque de la Naturaleza de Cabárceno, 39690, Obregón, Cantabria, Spain
| | | | - Rafael Molina-López
- Centre de Fauna de Torreferrussa, Àrea de Gestió Ambiental Servei de Fauna I Flora, Forestal Catalana, 08130, Santa Perpètua de Mogoda, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Óscar Cabezón
- Unitat Mixta d'Investigació IRTA-UAB en Sanitat Animal. Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08139, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
- Wildlife Conservation Medicine Research Group (WildCoM), Departament de Medicina I Cirugia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Puig-Ribas
- Unitat Mixta d'Investigació IRTA-UAB en Sanitat Animal. Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08139, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
- Wildlife Conservation Medicine Research Group (WildCoM), Departament de Medicina I Cirugia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Johan Espunyes
- Unitat Mixta d'Investigació IRTA-UAB en Sanitat Animal. Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08139, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
- Wildlife Conservation Medicine Research Group (WildCoM), Departament de Medicina I Cirugia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Júlia Vergara-Alert
- Unitat Mixta d'Investigació IRTA-UAB en Sanitat Animal. Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08139, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
- IRTA, Programa de Sanitat Animal, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Ignacio García-Bocanegra
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, 14014, Córdoba, Spain.
- CIBERINFEC, ISCIII-CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Joaquim Segalés
- Unitat Mixta d'Investigació IRTA-UAB en Sanitat Animal. Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08139, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
- Veterinary Pathology Diagnostic Service, Autonomous University of Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
- Departament de Sanitat I Anatomia Animals, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
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Fernández-Figueroa EA, Espinosa-Martínez DV, Miranda-Ortiz H, Ruiz-García E, Figueroa-Esquivel JM, Becerril-Moctezuma ML, Muñoz-Rivas A, Ríos-Muñoz CA. Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in companion animals from owners who tested positive for COVID-19 in the Valley of Mexico. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:186. [PMID: 38270725 PMCID: PMC10811044 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-09099-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Little is known about the companion animals which tested positive in Mexico for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Due to this, it is that we have documented the infection of companion animals, via an exploratory approach in two localities of the Valley of Mexico, in which the companion animal owners tested positive for COVID-19. METHODS Oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from 21 companion animals. Also, a Reverse-Transcription Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction was used to test five probes in three SARS-CoV-2 genes. More than one-third (5/14) of these samples were positive for SARS CoV-2 corresponding to dogs. RESULTS This research translates into the first available report on companion animals with SARS-CoV-2 infection in the most populated area of Mexico. Samples were added chronologically to previous reports prepared in other areas of the country, from February through November 2022. CONCLUSION Although SARS-CoV-2 infection in dogs is not as common as in other animals, our results suggest that it can be transmitted to dogs by their owners to a greater extent than previously reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edith A Fernández-Figueroa
- Núcleo B de Innovación en Medicina de Precisión, Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Deborah V Espinosa-Martínez
- Posgrado en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
- Laboratorio de Arqueozoología, Subdirección de Laboratorios y Apoyo Académico, Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Haydee Miranda-Ortiz
- Unidad de Secuenciación, Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Erika Ruiz-García
- Laboratorio de Medicina Traslacional, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | | | - Anallely Muñoz-Rivas
- Laboratorio de Diagnóstico Genómico, Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - César A Ríos-Muñoz
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.
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