SARS-CoV-2 infection in cats and dogs in infected mink farms

Anna E. van Aart; Francisca C. Velkers; Egil A.J. Fischer; Els M. Broens; Herman Egberink; Shan Zhao; Marc Engelsma; Renate W. Hakze-van der Honing; Frank Harders; Myrna M.T. de Rooij; Carien Radstake; Paola A. Meijer; Bas B. Oude Munnink; Jan de Rond; Reina S. Sikkema; Arco N. van der Spek; Marcel Spierenburg; Wendy J. Wolters; Robert Jan Molenaar; Marion P.G. Koopmans; Wim H.M. van der Poel; Arjan Stegeman; Lidwien A.M. Smit

doi:10.1111/tbed.14173

SARS-CoV-2 infection in cats and dogs in infected mink farms

Anna E. van Aart, Francisca C. Velkers, Egil A.J. Fischer, Els M. Broens, Herman Egberink, Shan Zhao, Marc Engelsma, Renate W. Hakze-van der Honing, Frank Harders, Myrna M.T. de Rooij, Carien Radstake, Paola A. Meijer, Bas B. Oude Munnink, Jan de Rond, Reina S. Sikkema, Arco N. van der Spek, Marcel Spierenburg, Wendy J. Wolters, Robert Jan Molenaar, Marion P.G. KoopmansWim H.M. van der Poel, Arjan Stegeman, Lidwien A.M. Smit^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Virology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

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Abstract

Animals like mink, cats and dogs are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. In the Netherlands, 69 out of 127 mink farms were infected with SARS-CoV-2 between April and November 2020 and all mink on infected farms were culled after SARS-CoV-2 infection to prevent further spread of the virus. On some farms, (feral) cats and dogs were present. This study provides insight into the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2-positive cats and dogs in 10 infected mink farms and their possible role in transmission of the virus. Throat and rectal swabs of 101 cats (12 domestic and 89 feral cats) and 13 dogs of 10 farms were tested for SARS-CoV-2 using PCR. Serological assays were performed on serum samples from 62 adult cats and all 13 dogs. Whole Genome Sequencing was performed on one cat sample. Cat-to-mink transmission parameters were estimated using data from all 10 farms. This study shows evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in 12 feral cats and 2 dogs. Eleven cats (18%) and two dogs (15%) tested serologically positive. Three feral cats (3%) and one dog (8%) tested PCR-positive. The sequence generated from the cat throat swab clustered with mink sequences from the same farm. The calculated rate of mink-to-cat transmission showed that cats on average had a chance of 12% (95%CI 10%–18%) of becoming infected by mink, assuming no cat-to-cat transmission. As only feral cats were infected it is most likely that infections in cats were initiated by mink, not by humans. Whether both dogs were infected by mink or humans remains inconclusive. This study presents one of the first reports of interspecies transmission of SARS-CoV-2 that does not involve humans, namely mink-to-cat transmission, which should also be considered as a potential risk for spread of SARS-CoV-2.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	3001-3007
Number of pages	7
Journal	Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
Volume	69
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.14173
Publication status	Published - Sept 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We acknowledge the submitting and originating laboratories of the sequences from GISAID's EpiCov Database on which the phylogenetic tree was based. The Municipal Health Services (GGD) are thanked for providing data on human infections at mink farms. We especially want to thank veterinarian J.W. Dijkshoorn of Pecon BV for sampling the animals at NB52. This study was commissioned and funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Foods.

Funding Information:
We acknowledge the submitting and originating laboratories of the sequences from GISAID's EpiCov Database on which the phylogenetic tree was based. The Municipal Health Services (GGD) are thanked for providing data on human infections at mink farms. We especially want to thank veterinarian J.W. Dijkshoorn of Pecon BV for sampling the animals at NB52. This study was commissioned and funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Foods.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Authors. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.

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SARS-CoV-2 infection in cats and dogs in infected mink farmsFinal published version, 356 KBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

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van Aart, A. E., Velkers, F. C., Fischer, E. A. J., Broens, E. M., Egberink, H., Zhao, S., Engelsma, M., Hakze-van der Honing, R. W., Harders, F., de Rooij, M. M. T., Radstake, C., Meijer, P. A., Oude Munnink, B. B., de Rond, J., Sikkema, R. S., van der Spek, A. N., Spierenburg, M., Wolters, W. J., Molenaar, R. J., ... Smit, L. A. M. (2022). SARS-CoV-2 infection in cats and dogs in infected mink farms. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, 69(5), 3001-3007. https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.14173

@article{ad524ac069984af885f6b844f27524f1,

title = "SARS-CoV-2 infection in cats and dogs in infected mink farms",

abstract = "Animals like mink, cats and dogs are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. In the Netherlands, 69 out of 127 mink farms were infected with SARS-CoV-2 between April and November 2020 and all mink on infected farms were culled after SARS-CoV-2 infection to prevent further spread of the virus. On some farms, (feral) cats and dogs were present. This study provides insight into the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2-positive cats and dogs in 10 infected mink farms and their possible role in transmission of the virus. Throat and rectal swabs of 101 cats (12 domestic and 89 feral cats) and 13 dogs of 10 farms were tested for SARS-CoV-2 using PCR. Serological assays were performed on serum samples from 62 adult cats and all 13 dogs. Whole Genome Sequencing was performed on one cat sample. Cat-to-mink transmission parameters were estimated using data from all 10 farms. This study shows evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in 12 feral cats and 2 dogs. Eleven cats (18%) and two dogs (15%) tested serologically positive. Three feral cats (3%) and one dog (8%) tested PCR-positive. The sequence generated from the cat throat swab clustered with mink sequences from the same farm. The calculated rate of mink-to-cat transmission showed that cats on average had a chance of 12% (95%CI 10%–18%) of becoming infected by mink, assuming no cat-to-cat transmission. As only feral cats were infected it is most likely that infections in cats were initiated by mink, not by humans. Whether both dogs were infected by mink or humans remains inconclusive. This study presents one of the first reports of interspecies transmission of SARS-CoV-2 that does not involve humans, namely mink-to-cat transmission, which should also be considered as a potential risk for spread of SARS-CoV-2.",

author = "{van Aart}, {Anna E.} and Velkers, {Francisca C.} and Fischer, {Egil A.J.} and Broens, {Els M.} and Herman Egberink and Shan Zhao and Marc Engelsma and {Hakze-van der Honing}, {Renate W.} and Frank Harders and {de Rooij}, {Myrna M.T.} and Carien Radstake and Meijer, {Paola A.} and {Oude Munnink}, {Bas B.} and {de Rond}, Jan and Sikkema, {Reina S.} and {van der Spek}, {Arco N.} and Marcel Spierenburg and Wolters, {Wendy J.} and Molenaar, {Robert Jan} and Koopmans, {Marion P.G.} and {van der Poel}, {Wim H.M.} and Arjan Stegeman and Smit, {Lidwien A.M.}",

note = "Funding Information: We acknowledge the submitting and originating laboratories of the sequences from GISAID's EpiCov Database on which the phylogenetic tree was based. The Municipal Health Services (GGD) are thanked for providing data on human infections at mink farms. We especially want to thank veterinarian J.W. Dijkshoorn of Pecon BV for sampling the animals at NB52. This study was commissioned and funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Foods. Funding Information: We acknowledge the submitting and originating laboratories of the sequences from GISAID's EpiCov Database on which the phylogenetic tree was based. The Municipal Health Services (GGD) are thanked for providing data on human infections at mink farms. We especially want to thank veterinarian J.W. Dijkshoorn of Pecon BV for sampling the animals at NB52. This study was commissioned and funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Foods. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 The Authors. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.",

year = "2022",

month = sep,

doi = "10.1111/tbed.14173",

language = "English",

volume = "69",

pages = "3001--3007",

journal = "Transboundary and Emerging Diseases",

issn = "1865-1674",

publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd",

number = "5",

}

van Aart, AE, Velkers, FC, Fischer, EAJ, Broens, EM, Egberink, H, Zhao, S, Engelsma, M, Hakze-van der Honing, RW, Harders, F, de Rooij, MMT, Radstake, C, Meijer, PA, Oude Munnink, BB, de Rond, J, Sikkema, RS, van der Spek, AN, Spierenburg, M, Wolters, WJ, Molenaar, RJ, Koopmans, MPG, van der Poel, WHM, Stegeman, A & Smit, LAM 2022, 'SARS-CoV-2 infection in cats and dogs in infected mink farms', Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, vol. 69, no. 5, pp. 3001-3007. https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.14173

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T1 - SARS-CoV-2 infection in cats and dogs in infected mink farms

AU - van Aart, Anna E.

AU - Velkers, Francisca C.

AU - Fischer, Egil A.J.

AU - Broens, Els M.

AU - Egberink, Herman

AU - Zhao, Shan

AU - Engelsma, Marc

AU - Hakze-van der Honing, Renate W.

AU - Harders, Frank

AU - de Rooij, Myrna M.T.

AU - Radstake, Carien

AU - Meijer, Paola A.

AU - Oude Munnink, Bas B.

AU - de Rond, Jan

AU - Sikkema, Reina S.

AU - van der Spek, Arco N.

AU - Spierenburg, Marcel

AU - Wolters, Wendy J.

AU - Molenaar, Robert Jan

AU - Koopmans, Marion P.G.

AU - van der Poel, Wim H.M.

AU - Stegeman, Arjan

AU - Smit, Lidwien A.M.

N1 - Funding Information: We acknowledge the submitting and originating laboratories of the sequences from GISAID's EpiCov Database on which the phylogenetic tree was based. The Municipal Health Services (GGD) are thanked for providing data on human infections at mink farms. We especially want to thank veterinarian J.W. Dijkshoorn of Pecon BV for sampling the animals at NB52. This study was commissioned and funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Foods. Funding Information: We acknowledge the submitting and originating laboratories of the sequences from GISAID's EpiCov Database on which the phylogenetic tree was based. The Municipal Health Services (GGD) are thanked for providing data on human infections at mink farms. We especially want to thank veterinarian J.W. Dijkshoorn of Pecon BV for sampling the animals at NB52. This study was commissioned and funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Foods. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Authors. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.

PY - 2022/9

Y1 - 2022/9

N2 - Animals like mink, cats and dogs are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. In the Netherlands, 69 out of 127 mink farms were infected with SARS-CoV-2 between April and November 2020 and all mink on infected farms were culled after SARS-CoV-2 infection to prevent further spread of the virus. On some farms, (feral) cats and dogs were present. This study provides insight into the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2-positive cats and dogs in 10 infected mink farms and their possible role in transmission of the virus. Throat and rectal swabs of 101 cats (12 domestic and 89 feral cats) and 13 dogs of 10 farms were tested for SARS-CoV-2 using PCR. Serological assays were performed on serum samples from 62 adult cats and all 13 dogs. Whole Genome Sequencing was performed on one cat sample. Cat-to-mink transmission parameters were estimated using data from all 10 farms. This study shows evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in 12 feral cats and 2 dogs. Eleven cats (18%) and two dogs (15%) tested serologically positive. Three feral cats (3%) and one dog (8%) tested PCR-positive. The sequence generated from the cat throat swab clustered with mink sequences from the same farm. The calculated rate of mink-to-cat transmission showed that cats on average had a chance of 12% (95%CI 10%–18%) of becoming infected by mink, assuming no cat-to-cat transmission. As only feral cats were infected it is most likely that infections in cats were initiated by mink, not by humans. Whether both dogs were infected by mink or humans remains inconclusive. This study presents one of the first reports of interspecies transmission of SARS-CoV-2 that does not involve humans, namely mink-to-cat transmission, which should also be considered as a potential risk for spread of SARS-CoV-2.

AB - Animals like mink, cats and dogs are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. In the Netherlands, 69 out of 127 mink farms were infected with SARS-CoV-2 between April and November 2020 and all mink on infected farms were culled after SARS-CoV-2 infection to prevent further spread of the virus. On some farms, (feral) cats and dogs were present. This study provides insight into the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2-positive cats and dogs in 10 infected mink farms and their possible role in transmission of the virus. Throat and rectal swabs of 101 cats (12 domestic and 89 feral cats) and 13 dogs of 10 farms were tested for SARS-CoV-2 using PCR. Serological assays were performed on serum samples from 62 adult cats and all 13 dogs. Whole Genome Sequencing was performed on one cat sample. Cat-to-mink transmission parameters were estimated using data from all 10 farms. This study shows evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in 12 feral cats and 2 dogs. Eleven cats (18%) and two dogs (15%) tested serologically positive. Three feral cats (3%) and one dog (8%) tested PCR-positive. The sequence generated from the cat throat swab clustered with mink sequences from the same farm. The calculated rate of mink-to-cat transmission showed that cats on average had a chance of 12% (95%CI 10%–18%) of becoming infected by mink, assuming no cat-to-cat transmission. As only feral cats were infected it is most likely that infections in cats were initiated by mink, not by humans. Whether both dogs were infected by mink or humans remains inconclusive. This study presents one of the first reports of interspecies transmission of SARS-CoV-2 that does not involve humans, namely mink-to-cat transmission, which should also be considered as a potential risk for spread of SARS-CoV-2.

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DO - 10.1111/tbed.14173

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SN - 1865-1674

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EP - 3007

JO - Transboundary and Emerging Diseases

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ER -

SARS-CoV-2 infection in cats and dogs in infected mink farms

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